Authority for Business and Innovation

Apply for approval to use plant protection products

Do you want to use approved plant protection products outside their intended area of application? Here you can find out how to obtain a permit.

Use Online-Service

Apply for permission to use plant protection products

Detailed description

You may only use plant protection products for the applications for which they are expressly approved. You may not use plant protection products on so-called non-cultivated areas such as paths, squares, or courtyards.



In exceptional cases, you can apply for an exemption permit. This permit allows you to use approved plant protection products outside their usual area of application or even on non-agricultural land.

 

Information

Prerequisites

The use of pesticides is demonstrably necessary, unavoidable, and acceptable for both humans and the environment. The relevant authority can provide you with more detailed information.

Documents required

Whether and, if so, which documents are required depends on the individual case. The responsible authority will inform you accordingly.

Please note

  • You can only obtain permission to treat seeds if you use the treated seeds exclusively on your own farm.
  • When using pesticides on plants that are processed into food, the pesticide residues must not exceed the legally defined limits.
  • Plant protection products may only be applied by qualified persons.

Deadlines

The permit is limited in time.


The authorisation can be limited to the duration of the authorisation of the plant protection product.

Procedure

  • You submit your application and any necessary documents to the responsible authority via the provided online service.
  • The responsible authority will review your application. If necessary, they will request further documents or information from you.
  • The relevant authority will decide on your application.
  • You will receive a notification.
  • You will receive a fee notice.
  • They pay the fees.

Processing time

Provided all documents are available, you will usually receive your notification within a few days.

Fees

Individual application: EUR 67.00.


Extension of an existing application: EUR 24.00


Follow-up application: EUR 24.00


Applications for multiple plant protection products: EUR 74.00.


For each additional plant protection product added within a collective application: a further EUR 24.00.

Legal remedies

Contradiction


Lawsuit before the Administrative Court

Legal basis

Section 12 paragraph 6 of the Plant Protection Act (PflSchG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflschg_2012/__12.html


Section 22 of the Plant Protection Act (PflSchG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflschg_2012/__22.html

Address and contact information

Authority for Business and Innovation

Plant Protection Office, Plant Protection Service, Laboratory, Tests, Research

Prior registration is required to drive onto the government premises and to park on the BWAI/BVM grounds. Parking management: parkplatz@bwai.hamburg.de

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Keywords: Pesticides plant protection plant protection permit application of plant protection products approval of plant protection products use pesticides application permit use of plant protection Exceptions for plant protection products

Last updated: 11.09.2026