This position statement is based on CropLife SA’s interpretation of promulgated acts and regulations and is not a legal opinion. CropLife SA, its members and staff shall not be held liable for any damages to any parties as a result of their actions of interpretation of this position statement. The statement was drafted in the interest of CropLife SA’s members, our members’ intellectual property rights in terms of registered agricultural remedies and the lawful use thereof, and producers who may require the service of professional pest control operators.

Requirements for the use of drones for the aerial application of pesticides are embedded in Act No. 36 of 1947 and Act No.13 of 2009.
Any person doing aerial application of pesticides for financial gain must be:

• registered as a pest control operator for aerial application under Act No. 36 of 1947
• this registration can only be applied for if the person complies with all the requirements of Act No. 13 of 2009
• be licensed to operate a drone (remotely controlled aircraft) under Act No. 13 of 2009
• be registered under Act 13 of 2009
• be in possession of a remotely piloted aircraft operators certificate issued under Act No. 13 of 2009
• be in possession of certificate of competency to operate a radio communications system
• be in possession of a system for radio communications

These requirements are not different to those applicable to commercial pilots operating fixed winged aircraft or helicopters for aerial application of pesticides; these are, however, specific to persons operating drones for aerial application of pesticides.

CropLife SA urges drone operators who wish to offer services as aerial applicators to undergo the necessary training, registration and licensing in terms of both acts before commencing with aerial application of agricultural remedies. Drones may be useful in agriculture, but CropLife SA will only recognize drones as a legal aerial application method if drones and pilots meet all requirements of the South African legislation and if agricultural remedies applied by drones are registered for aerial application.

Agricultural remedies (hereafter referred to as “pesticides”) as defined in Section 1 of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947) include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, avicides, rodenticides, miticides, nematicides, algaecides, plant growth regulants, adjuvants and other related products of chemical or biological origin. Such pesticides may only be applied for purposes and in manners as directed by label instructions according to Regulation No. R1716 of 26 July 1991 of Act No. 36 of 1947.

1. If aerial application of pesticides is executed by a pilot that do it in the course of business, the pilot must comply with Section 7 (2) (a) (ii) of the Act (quoted verbatim from the Act):
   “(2) (a) No person shall for reward or in the course of any industry, trade or business- (ii) use any agricultural remedy unless he is a pest control operator registered in terms of this Act or otherwise than in the presence and under the supervision of a pest control operator so registered.”
2. This means that a pilot offering aerial application of pesticides by aircraft for commercial gain must conform to the following requirements: i. be registered as a pest control operator under Act No. 36 of 1947, meaning the pilot shall have a registration certificate with a P-number and the field of operations specified as aerial application, issued by the Registrar of Act No. 36 of 1947;
   1. registration as a pest control operator is subject to the pilot of an aircraft undergoing training as an aerial applicator, qualifying according to certain standards as specified in the Pest Control Operators Regulations No. R98 of 18 February 2011 and completing an internship under supervision of a pest control operator that is registered for aerial application of pesticides before being eligible to submit an application for registration as an aerial application pest control operator;
   ii. tthe pilot shall first comply with all the conditions of the South African Civil Aviation Authority.

1. The Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009) defines an aircraft as (quoted verbatim from the Act): “aircraft” means a machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air, other than the reactions of the air against the surface of the earth”
2. The Amendments to the Civil Aviation Regulations, 2011 defines a remotely piloted aircraft as (quoted verbatim from the 8 th Amendment No. R444 of 27 May 2015 to the Civil Aviation Regulations 2011) as - ‘remotely piloted aircraft’ means an unmanned aircraft which is piloted from a remote pilot station, excluding model aircraft and toy aircraft, (remotely piloted aircraft is abbreviated as RPA) therefore, classifies drones as a remotely piloted aircraft, unless such drones are toys or model aircraft, and
3. a person operating a drone is therefore defined by the 8 th Amendment as (quoted verbatim from the 8 th Amendment): ‘remote pilot’ (RP) means the person who manipulates the flight controls or manages the flight command instructions of an RPA during flight time,
4. ‘remotely piloted aircraft system’ (RPAS) means a set of configurable elements consisting of a remotely piloted aircraft, its associated remote pilot stations(s), the required command and control links and any other elements as may be required at any

5. Part 101.02.4 of the 8th Amendment: (1) No RPA shall be operated within the Republic, unless such RPA has been issued with a certificate of registration by the Director.
6. Part 101.03.1 of the 8th Amendment: (1) No person shall act as a remote pilot, except when undergoing a skill test or receiving flight instruction, unless he or she is in possession of a valid remote pilot licence (RPL) in the relevant category. (2) A remote pilot licence may be issued for the following categories: (a) RPL (A): Remote Pilot Licence (Aeroplane); (b) RPL (H): Remote Pilot Licence (Helicopter); (c) RPL (MR): Remote Pilot Licence (Multi-rotor) meaning a drone (our interpretation).
7. Part 101.04.1 of the 8th Amendment: (1) No person shall operate an RPAS in terms of this Part unless such person is the holder of – (a) in the case of commercial, corporate and non-profit operations, a valid ROC (RPAS operators’ certificate) including the operations specifications attached thereto; and (b) in the case of commercial operations, an air services licence issued in terms of the Air Services Licensing Act, 1990 (Act No. 115 of 1990).
8. Part 101.05.4 of the 8th Amendment: No object or substance shall be released, dispensed, dropped, delivered or deployed from an RPA except by the holder of a ROC and as approved by the Director in the operators’ operations manual.
9. Part 101.05.10 of the 8th Amendment: (1) No person shall operate an RPA unless they have in their possession – (a) a valid RPA Pilot Licence; (b) a copy of the ROC and associated OpSpec. (operational specifications) (c) the certificate of registration for each RPA in operation; (d) a copy of the RLA (RPA letter of approval); and (e) user manual for the RPA and the remote pilot station.
10. Part 101.05.16 of the 8th Amendment: (1) Except for R-VLOS (restricted visual line of sight) operations, no RPAS shall be operated unless the pilot has a functioning air-band radio in his possession, tuned to the frequency or frequencies applicable to the ATSU providing services or controlling such area or airspace or to aircraft in such area or airspace.
11. Part 101.09.1 of the 8th Amendment: (1) (of the 8th Amendment): No RPAS shall be operated with the Republic, unless such RPAS has been issued with a letter of approval from the Director.

The requirements of the Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009), the Civil Aviation Regulations of 2011 and the 8th Amendment to the regulations of 2015 in summary are as follows for a pilot operating a remotely piloted aircraft (= drone):

1. Be licensed to pilot remotely licensed aircraft for multirotor devices (RPL (MR));
2. Be certified as proficient in the use of aeronautical radiotelephony;
3. Have in his possession a functional air band radio;
4. Have a valid RPAS operator’s certificate (ROC);
5. Have certificates of registration for each RPA in his possession (RLA);
6. Have a copy of the letter of approval (RLA);
7. Be licensed as a pest control operator (aerial application) in terms of Act No. 36 of 1947 which is subject to the pilot first meeting all the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority.

CropLife SA urges drone operators who wish to offer services as aerial applicators to undergo the necessary training, registration, and licensing in terms of both acts before commencing with aerial application of agricultural remedies. Drones may be useful in agriculture, but CropLife SA will only recognise drones as a legal aerial application method if drones and pilots conform to all the requirements of the South African legislation.

Registration holders of agricultural remedies (pesticides), may at their discretion, decide to restrict aerial application of their registered agricultural remedies to piloted aircraft and will indicate such restriction on their labels under Precautions or in the directions for use. Such restriction must be approved by the Registrar of Act No. 36 of 1947.

The Registrar of Act No. 36 of 1947 may at his (or her) discretion impose restriction upon the use of drones for aerial application of agricultural remedies for remedies that are registered for aerial application. A mandate is given to the Registrar in terms of Section 6A of the Act to prohibit the use of certain application equipment by registered pest control operators.