Greece mandates DIN 13164:2022 first aid kits in vehicles starting January 2027
Starting 1 January 2027, all vehicle first aid kits in Greece must comply with DIN 13164:2022 standards and contain 16 certified medical device categories, according to a published ministerial decision.
Implementation of the 2027 vehicle mandate
Starting 1 January 2027, first aid kits in all passenger cars in Greece will be subject to binding technical specifications under a newly published ministerial decision. Vehicle owners must inspect the emergency kits currently stored in their vehicles or purchase a fully certified replacement before the regulation takes effect. The updated framework is designed to ensure that drivers possess functional medical equipment to manage traffic collisions and physical injuries before the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAV) reaches the scene. General Secretary of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association Manolis Katsarakis detailed the regulatory changes in an interview with the Athens News Agency and on Tania Mantouvalou's radio programme 104.9 Health Secrets. Katsarakis stressed that drivers can no longer rely on arbitrary or forgotten kits that have sat unattended in vehicle boots for years.
- Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association outlines requirements from published ministerial decision
- DIN 13164:2022 first aid kit standard becomes legally mandatory for vehicles in Greece
Mandatory medical device inventory
The published ministerial decision defines a mandatory catalogue of 16 distinct categories of medical devices, requiring multiple units for several specific items. The mandated inventory includes elastic bandages in multiple sizes, specialized dressings for both open wounds and burns, fixation bandages, retention materials, an isothermal blanket, cleansing wipes, face masks, and written first aid instructions. Katsarakis emphasized that standard household items, such as a single roll of gauze and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, do not satisfy the updated legal requirements. The technical list specifies minimum quantities for each item, noting for instance that six wound dressings may be mandated rather than one to guarantee readiness during a roadside emergency.
The kit includes, among other things, elastic bandages of various sizes, dressings for wounds and burns, fixing bandages, retention materials, an isothermal blanket, cleaning wipes, masks and first aid instructions.
Technical standards and packaging criteria
Under the ministerial decree, the exterior container of every vehicle first aid kit must carry the DIN 13164:2022 technical certification. In addition to the container standard, every individual medical device stored within the kit, including sterile gauzes, must display its own CE conformity marking. The outer casing must provide adequate durability to endure temperature fluctuations and mechanical wear within passenger compartments and boots. Packaging must seal effectively to protect sterile medical supplies from dust, moisture, and ambient vehicle contaminants. Drivers who already possess a kit must verify whether existing supplies have deteriorated, expired, or failed to meet the DIN standard.
Sourcing through licensed suppliers
Katsarakis cautioned consumers against buying unverified emergency packs from unauthorized general retailers, noting that many commercial outlets lack the required regulatory licensing to distribute medical devices. The Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association recommended that motorists source their kits directly from registered pharmacies or specialized medical supply stores. Purchasing from authorized vendors guarantees that the materials hold legitimate CE markings and adhere to the official ministerial checklist. Katsarakis stated that merely possessing a storage box is insufficient, as drivers must verify that the full array of 16 specified medical items is present, undamaged, and ready for immediate deployment.
