Greece Mandates DIN 13164:2022 First Aid Kits for All Motor Vehicles Starting June 18

Greece Mandates DIN 13164:2022 First Aid Kits for All Motor Vehicles Starting June 18

ATHENS – The Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has announced a major update to vehicle safety requirements, mandating that every passenger car in Greece must carry a first aid kit compliant with the European standard DIN 13164:2022 effective June 18, 2026.

The updated regulation, formalized under Ministerial Decision D30/45652/2026 and published in Government Gazette 1804 B on April 1, 2026, represents the first systematic upgrade to vehicle first aid equipment requirements in Greece since 1978. Deputy Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis signed the decision, aligning domestic regulations with modern European safety standards.

The new rules apply to all four-wheeled motor vehicles circulating in Greek territory. Motorcycles and two-wheeled vehicles are exempt from the requirement

Sixteen Mandatory Items

Under the new requirements, every compliant first aid kit must contain precisely 16 specific medical items of defined dimensions and quality specifications. The DIN 13164:2022-certified contents include:

Medical-grade adhesive tape (5 m × 2.5 cm, DIN 13019-A); 14 assorted adhesive wound dressings; sterile individual dressings in small, medium and large sizes (DIN 13151-K/M/G); a sterile burn/gauze dressing (60 × 80 cm); an isothermal rescue blanket (minimum dimensions 210 × 160 cm, metallised); two narrow elastic bandages (6 cm × 4 m); three wide elastic bandages (8 cm × 4 m); a triangular sling bandage (96 × 96 × 136 cm); atraumatic first aid scissors; four disposable medical gloves; two antiseptic skin-cleaning wipes; two medical face masks; and multilingual first aid instructions.Storage and Maintenance Requirements

Beyond content specifications, the ministerial decision also sets clear instructions regarding storage and upkeep. The first aid kit must be positioned inside the vehicle in a location that is immediately and easily accessible, and it may not be locked away or used to store non-medical items.

Vehicle owners and drivers are responsible for checking the kit regularly, ensuring that all contents are within their expiration dates and in good condition. Items that have been used or have expired must be promptly replenished. Due to the risk of material degradation from high temperatures during summer months, the ministry recommends more frequent checks, and all contents must be renewed at least every two years.Compliance and Penalties

Drivers found without a compliant DIN 13164:2022 first aid kit will face a €30 administrative fine under paragraph 25 of Article 85 of the Greek Road Traffic Code (Law 5209/2025). While the fine amount is modest, authorities emphasize that the measure is intended to promote road safety awareness and align Greece with established European norms.Background and Rationale

The initiative stems from a legislative gap identified in European Commission reviews of Greece’s road safety framework. The German DIN 13164 standard was originally adopted in February 2022 and became mandatory in Germany on January 31, 2023, but had not been uniformly implemented across all EU member states. The issuance of Ministerial Decision D30/45652/2026 closes this gap and halts potential infringement procedures related to product safety and consumer protection directives.

Greece had not revised its vehicle first aid requirements since the 1970s, making the upgrade a long-overdue step toward modern emergency preparedness. The new standard introduces items previously absent from traditional Greek vehicle first aid kits, including a thermal rescue blanket, specialised burn dressings, medical face masks, atraumatic scissors, and antiseptic wet wipes.Extension of the Transition Period

On April 28, 2026, local media reported that the mandatory deadline for the new requirements has been extended until January 1, 2027. While enforcement of the new provisions was initially scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026, the extension provides drivers with additional time to comply and ensures sufficient supply of the new first aid kits on the Greek market