Drone Regulations in Agriculture in Bulgaria – What You Need to Know
Interest in agricultural drones in Bulgaria grows every year. More and more farmers from Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Haskovo, Dobrudzha and the entire Thracian Plain are looking for solutions for precision spraying and aerial fertiliser application. But before you fly a drone over your field, you must absolutely know the regulations for drones in agriculture – the legislative framework, licences and permits required in Bulgaria and the EU.
This article is a complete guide for every farmer or operator who wants to know how to legally treat crops with a drone. We examine the requirements of the CAA, EASA, BFSA and regional health inspectorates, so that every operation is fully legal and safe.
Regulatory Framework in Bulgaria – an Overview
The use of drones in agriculture in Bulgaria is regulated by several institutions simultaneously. This is because the activity encompasses both aviation and crop protection and health protection.
The main regulatory bodies are:
- General Directorate "Civil Aviation Administration" (CAA) – responsible for flight safety and registration of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operators
- EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) – defines the pan-European categories and rules for drones, applicable in Bulgaria as an EU member state
- Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) – issues a licence for plant protection activities
- Regional Health Inspectorates (RHI) – supervise the safe use of plant protection products (PPP)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Food – determines policies for crop protection and agri-ecology
Anyone applying plant protection preparations with a drone must comply with all these levels of regulation simultaneously.
CAA Requirements – Registration and Competency
The Main Directorate "Civil Aviation Administration" is the main body for regulating airspace in Bulgaria. To operate an agricultural drone, the following are required:
Operator Registration
Every UAS operator with a take-off mass above 250 g must be registered with the CAA as an unmanned aircraft system operator. Registration is done online and includes data on the operator, drone type and planned operations.
Remote Pilot Certificate
The drone pilot must hold a valid certificate of competency, issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/947. Depending on the operation category, an online test or more in-depth training and an examination may be required.
Operational Authorisation
For agricultural spraying operations the drone falls under the Specific category, meaning the operator must obtain operational authorisation from the CAA based on a risk assessment (SORA – Specific Operations Risk Assessment).
EASA Drone Categories – Open, Specific, Certified
EU Regulation 2019/947 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 define three operation categories for drones, which also apply in Bulgaria:
Open Category
Intended for low-risk operations. The drone must weigh under 25 kg, fly at a height below 120 m and remain in line of sight (VLOS). Crop spraying does NOT fall into this category, as it involves dispersing substances from the air.
Specific Category
Most agricultural drone operations fall into this category. A risk assessment is required and operational authorisation must be obtained from the national authority (CAA). The operator submits a SORA analysis describing risk mitigation measures – safety zones, emergency procedures, personnel qualifications.
Certified Category
This category is for operations with the highest risk – transport of people or dangerous cargo. It requires type certification of the drone, operator licence and pilot licence. Agricultural drones generally do not fall into this category, except in particularly large-scale or risky operations.
For spraying with an agri drone such as the DJI Agras T50, the Specific category is the standard regulatory path in Bulgaria.
BFSA – Plant Protection Activity Licence
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) regulates any activity involving the application of plant protection products (PPP). Under the Plant Protection Act (PPA), to perform commercial spraying the following are required:
- Certificate for a professional user of PPP – issued after completion of specialised training. Without this document, it is not legal to work with pesticides in a professional context.
- Plant protection activity licence – issued by BFSA to legal entities that carry out PPP treatment commercially. The licence confirms that the operator has trained staff, appropriate equipment and complies with all sanitary requirements.
Professional User of PPP
The status of "Professional User of PPP" is acquired after training at an accredited training organisation and passing an examination. The training covers:
- PPP classification and labelling
- Safe storage and transportation
- Equipment calibration
- Protection of water sources and the environment
- Personal safety measures
Regional Health Inspectorates (RHI) and Health Requirements
Regional Health Inspectorates supervise compliance with sanitary standards when working with PPP. In certain circumstances – for example, spraying near populated areas – notification or clearance from RHI may be required. The aim is to ensure there is no health risk for people in surrounding areas.
Operator Training and Certification
Operating an agricultural drone requires specialised skills – different from those for hobby or photography drones. Training typically includes:
- Theoretical preparation – aviation law, meteorology, aerodynamics, navigation, risk management
- Practical training – manoeuvring, mission planning, operating in different conditions, emergency procedures
- Agricultural specialisation – nozzle calibration, dosages, working with PPP, agronomic knowledge
DJI offers training through DJI Academy for operators of the Agras series – the same model we use at AirAgro. Successfully completing training is an important step, but it does not replace the requirements for CAA registration and BFSA licence.
Insurance Requirements
Under Regulation (EU) 2019/947, all drone operators must hold third-party liability insurance covering damage caused to third parties. For agricultural drones working with chemical preparations, it is advisable for the insurance policy to also cover:
- Environmental contamination damage
- Damage to neighbouring plots from unintended drift
AirAgro operates with full insurance covering all operational risks.
Flight Restrictions – Where You CANNOT Fly
Not every field can be treated with a drone without additional permits. The main restricted zones are:
- Airport zones – within a radius of 5 km around airports, flight is prohibited without explicit CAA permission
- Military zones – flights over or near military facilities are strictly prohibited
- Natura 2000 zones – spraying in protected areas may require additional environmental assessments
- Populated areas – restrictions on flights over or near residential areas
- Water sources and water bodies – mandatory buffer zones when applying PPP
Before every operation, check whether the specific plot falls within a restricted zone and obtain the relevant permits.
Documentation – GPS Logs and CAP Reporting
Modern agricultural drones, including the DJI Agras T50, record detailed data for every mission. These data are important for:
CAP Compliance
Within the context of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), farmers must document their plant protection activities. GPS logs from the drone provide:
- Exact date and time of treatment
- GPS coordinates of the treated plot
- Applied dosage per decare
- Preparation used and batch number
- Meteorological conditions during treatment
These data facilitate reporting to the State Fund Agriculture (SFA) and during inspections by regulatory bodies.
Plant Protection Diary
Under the PPA, every farm manager is required to maintain a plant protection diary. The automatic logs from the drone greatly simplify this process.
Why Hire a Licensed Operator like AirAgro
With so many drone regulations in agriculture, entering this field independently is complex. Here is why hiring a licensed operator is the most practical choice:
- Full licences and permits – AirAgro holds all necessary documents from the CAA and BFSA
- Trained and certified operators – our team has completed training for operation of the DJI Agras T50 and plant protection products
- Insurance – every operation is covered by third-party liability insurance
- Full documentation – we provide GPS logs, treatment reports and all documentation for CAP
- Regional coverage – we operate in Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Haskovo, Dobrudzha and the entire Thracian Plain
Explore our drone spraying services and learn more about drone spraying in Bulgaria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence to spray my own field with a drone?
Yes. Even if you are treating your own areas, applying PPP requires the status of "Professional User of PPP" and CAA registration as a drone operator. The law makes no distinction between personal and commercial activity with regard to safety when working with pesticides.
What penalties are there for unauthorised drone spraying?
Penalties range from fines to prohibition of the activity. Unregistered drone flight can lead to a fine from the CAA, and unauthorised application of PPP – to sanctions from BFSA under the Plant Protection Act. In the case of environmental contamination, criminal liability may also follow.
How long does it take to obtain all permits?
The process can take from 2 to 6 months – it includes CAA registration, training and examination for a professional PPP user, obtaining a BFSA licence and taking out insurance. That is why many farm managers prefer to hire a licensed operator.
Can I spray with a drone near a populated area?
There are restrictions depending on the specific populated area, the preparation used and the meteorological conditions. Buffer zones must be observed and notification of RHI may be required. The operator must carry out a risk assessment before each such operation.
Does AirAgro comply with all regulatory requirements?
Yes. AirAgro operates with a full set of licences, permits and insurance. Our operators are trained and certified, and every treatment is documented with GPS logs and detailed reports. You can contact us for a free consultation.
Contact AirAgro
Don't risk fines and unregulated treatments. Trust a team with full licences, trained operators and professional equipment. AirAgro performs legal drone spraying throughout Southern Bulgaria.
📞 Call now: +359 884 242 406 – for a free consultation and quote for your areas.
Learn more about how an agricultural drone works and the specifications of the DJI Agras T50 that we use.
