European and international standards for plant protection equipment are used to harmonize requirements and test methods. The aim of uniform standards is the mutual recognition of tests between the European members.

The standardization of technical regulations is considered as an essential requirement for free movements of plant protection equipment. The EU directive on machinery for pesticide application (2009/127/EC)  determines safety- and environment-related equipment requirements. It is subdivided in harmonized standards (EN ISO 16119 und ISO 19932). Furthermore the guideline for sustainable use of pesticides (2009/128/EC) regulates the periodic inspection of plant protection equipment in use. Norm EN ISO 16122 defines the specific requirements.

The Institute plays an important role in the development and updating of these standards. Furthermore the Institute contributes in European networks to the harmonization of plant protection equipment tests (ENTAM) and the inspection of sprayers in use (SPISE).

The primary national committee for standardization is the “technical committee 2 (tillage, sowing, plant cultivation, plant protection)”, which is part of the “DIN Standards Committee Mechanical Engineering”  and coordinates the German contributions to national and international standardization.

Furthermore the Institute participates in the following committees of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN):

• CEN/TC 144/WG 2 – Tractors and self propelled machines
• CEN/TC 144/WG 3 – Mobile machines and trailers
• ISO/TC23/SC6 – Equipment for crop protection
• ISO/TC23/SC6/CAG – Chairman Advisory Group
• ISO/TC23/SC6/WG5 – Portable sprayers (project management)
• ISO/TC23/SC6/WG13 – Droplet size classification
• ISO/TC23/SC6/WG18 – Test methods for nozzles and sprayers (project management)
• ISO/TC23/SC6/WG20 – Aerial sprayers
• ISO/TC23/SC6/WG24 – Closed transfer systems