Belarus Implements New Regulations on Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
| Date | September 25, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Signed by | Alexander Lukashenko |
| Decree | No. 297 “On the state accounting and operation of civil unmanned aerial vehicles” |
Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, has signed decree No. 297 on the state accounting and operation of civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The decree, aimed at ensuring public safety and regulating the use of UAVs and aircraft models, is set to have a significant impact on the country.
Under the new decree, individuals in Belarus are prohibited from engaging in the import, storage, turnover, operation, and manufacturing of civilian UAVs. The measures will come into effect immediately after the official publication of the document, except for the provisions regarding storage and turnover, which will have a six-month implementation period. During this time, individuals will be required to either transfer their UAVs to authorized organizations determined by the government or comply with the storage and turnover regulations.
However, the decree does allow organizations and individual entrepreneurs to import, store, and operate civilian UAVs within the scope of their professional and entrepreneurial activities, provided they adhere to the requirements specified in the decree. Organizations and individual entrepreneurs looking to import UAVs into Belarus will need to obtain permission from the Department of Aviation of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
To enhance regulation and enforcement, the decree also includes the establishment of an automated information system for the state accounting of civilian UAVs owned by legal entities and/or individual entrepreneurs. This system aims to streamline the monitoring and enforcement of the established rules and norms.