The Unmanned Aircraft (Market Surveillance Authority) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State using powers under Article 3B(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, formally designate the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as the market surveillance authority responsible for overseeing compliance within the UK relating to unmanned aircraft systems and third-country operators under that specific retained EU framework, applying across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Arguments For
Establishes a clear, designated national authority responsible for enforcing market surveillance rules concerning unmanned aircraft systems (drones) as required by EU legislation.
Ensures regulatory consistency for drones operating within the UK by aligning with the framework set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, promoting market certainty.
Designates the familiar and expert body, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to undertake these surveillance roles, leveraging existing aviation expertise.
Arguments Against
The reliance on continuing to implement specific retained EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 2019/945) creates ongoing administrative complexity post-Brexit regarding regulatory adoption and maintenance.
The instrument states no significant impact on the private or public sector is foreseen, which might suggest the regulatory burden or necessity of the instrument is minor or already covered by existing structures.
The commencement provision, coming into force the day after being made, allows for minimal parliamentary scrutiny time before implementation takes legal effect.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 3B(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 of 12 March 2019 on unmanned aircraft systems and on third-country operators of unmanned aircraft systems1.
The Secretary of State creates these regulations by utilizing specific powers granted under Article 3B(1) of the existing EU law concerning Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones), specifically Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945.
Citation, commencement and extent
1.
(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Unmanned Aircraft (Market Surveillance Authority) Regulations 2025.
(2) These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section covers administrative details for the instruments.
The official short title is established as the Unmanned Aircraft (Market Surveillance Authority) Regulations 2025.
The rules become legally active the day immediately following their official enactment date.
The territorial scope covers the entirety of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Prescription of the CAA as market surveillance authority
- The CAA2 is the market surveillance authority for the purposes of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 of 12 March 2019 on unmanned aircraft systems and on third-country operators of unmanned aircraft systems.
This is the main operative provision.
It formally names the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as the designated body responsible for conducting market surveillance activities.
These activities are required under the specified retained European Regulation (EU) 2019/945, which governs unmanned aircraft systems and operators from outside the EU.
Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The concluding note clarifies that this information sheet is supplementary and not a formal part of the legislation itself.
It also confirms that a comprehensive assessment of the economic and regulatory impact was determined unnecessary because no substantial effect on the private, voluntary, or public sectors is anticipated from these rules.
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