Are drones with class identification label presently available on the EU market?
Answer
Drones bearing a class identification label are progressively appearing on the market. However, the presence of a class identification label on the drone does not guarantee its compliance to Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (R945). Compliant drones are expected to appear slowly towards the end of the year.
Until at least March 2022, it will not be possible to have compliant drones of classes C1, C2 and C3 on the market, due to the absence of the procedures necessary to demonstrate their conformity. In addition, the absence of standards supporting the requirements of R945 until at least the end of the year makes difficult for manufacturers to ensure compliance of their products. This is especially the case for classes C0 and C4 to C5. Therefore, we recommend great caution at least until the end of the year when buying drones with a class identification label.
Market surveillance authorities are responsible for ensuring that the drones placed on the Union market with a class identification label are compliant to R945. However, you, as individual, should also take measures to get sufficient confidence that you are operating a compliant drone (see FaQ 3).
If you have any question on compliance of drones with the EU regulation, please contact us.