Pesticide Compliance Information

RPAS Pesticide Application Compliance

June 2026 Update: Health Canada has indicated that, on an interim basis, application by drone may be acceptable where the product label contains directions for aerial application of the crop being treated.

Operators must fully comply with all aerial label directions, including spray volume, application rate, droplet size, buffer zones, PPE, and all other conditions of use. The person who mixes and loads the pesticides must be different from the RPA (drone) pilot.

Farmers and other spray drone operators are reminded, however, that drone application is not without risk, particularly with herbicides, and must be done carefully, professionally, and in full compliance with label and safety requirements. But for farmers who cannot access fields by ground equipment, this may provide a critical option where no practical alternative exists this spring.

What this means in practice

Products already registered for aerial application may become eligible for RPAS application under Health Canada's proposed policy, subject to label directions and final policy wording.
Products that do not already allow aerial application are not automatically eligible for drone application, but will require a separate detailed label application.
Herbicide applications can carry significant agronomic, environmental, drift, residue, and neighbouring-crop risks, so operators must treat this as a serious professional application method.
At the same time, drones may provide important relief for farmers who cannot access wet, steep, sensitive, or otherwise difficult fields using ground equipment.
CADA supports a practical, science-based path that protects safety, crop protection needs, and responsible operator standards.

Important Limits to Understand

A Letter of No Objection (LONO) is not a general exemption from pesticide law.
A LONO does not replace the pesticide label.
A LONO does not replace Transport Canada RPAS requirements.
A LONO does not replace provincial pesticide applicator certification or licensing.
Operators should therefore review the specific wording of the LONO and confirm whether it applies to their product, crop, use pattern, province, applicator status, and operating scenario.

The final Health Canada policy will be released in the near future. At that point, the LONO will no longer be in force. This page will be updated when CADA releases new information.