If you open your car's glove compartment today and find a first aid kit with rusty scissors and bandages that you bought when you picked up the vehicle, you're not alone. Most vehicles in Greece carry first aid kits that are past their expiration date or no longer meet the standard required by law.

As of January 1, 2027, this will change. Ministerial Decision D30/60123/2026 officially defines DIN 13164:2022 as the mandatory standard for the pharmacy of every car, taxi, truck and bus in Greece. If you don't keep up, a fine of 30 euros is the mildest of the inconveniences that await you at the MOT or a traffic police check.

Let's take them one by one.

What changes with the new legislation?

The change is not something that the Greek state built from scratch. It is a harmonization with the European standard DIN 13164:2022, which has already been in force for years in Germany, Austria and other Eurozone countries. The Greek market followed suit last.

Official basis: the original Ministerial Decision D30/45652/18.3.2026, as amended by Ministerial Decision D30/60123/2026 (Government Gazette 2318/B/24-4-2026). The amendment postponed the effective date from June 18, 2026 to January 1, 2027, to allow time for the market and vehicle owners to adjust smoothly.

In practice, this means that from that date onwards, a pharmacy that does not bear the label «DIN 13164:2022» is considered incomplete. It does not matter if it is new or if it contains high-quality items. If it does not meet the standard, it does not pass the inspection.

When does it take effect and who does it apply to?

The new legislation applies from January 1, 2027 for all motor vehicles circulating on Greek roads:

• Passenger cars.
• Taxi
• Trucks of every category
• Buses and tourist coaches
• Commercial vehicles

Η only exception concerns two-wheelers. Motorcycles and mopeds are not required to carry a first aid kit, due to the obvious space problem.

If you drive a vehicle in any of the above categories, you will need to check whether your pharmacy meets the specifications of DIN 13164:2022 before your next MOT or before December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. In the category Car Accessories At Olympus Plus you will find certified solutions for all mandatory supplies of the KOK.

The 16 items that the new pharmacy must have

The DIN 13164:2022 standard defines precisely what should be inside the box. It is not a matter of a general list. It is 16 specific items, with specific dimensions and quantities:

1. Adhesive tape/plastic wrap (5m × 2.5cm), 1 roll
2. Adhesive patches of various sizes, 14 pieces
3. First aid bandage small (6×8cm), 1 piece
4. First aid bandage medium (8×10cm), 2 pieces
5. First aid bandage large (10×12cm), 1 piece
6. Gauze pressure pad (40×60cm), 1 piece
7. Gauze pressure pad (60×80cm), 1 piece
8. Sterile gauze (10×10cm), 6 pieces
9. Triangular suspension bandages, 2 pieces
10. Isothermal rescue blanket (210×160cm), 1 piece
11. Atraumatic first aid scissors, 1 piece
12. Disposable gloves, 4 pieces (2 pairs)
13. Wet cleaning wipes, 2 pieces
14. Medical face masks EN 14683 Type II or IIR, 2 pieces (the big new addition)
15. First aid instruction booklet
16. CE marking on all items without exception

Notice the number 14. Medical face masks are the most important addition to the 2022 standard compared to the old versions of DIN 13164. They are not just any masks. They must carry the certification EN 14683 Type II or higher, which ensures the minimum level of medical protection during first aid.

How does it differ from the old model?

If your last pharmacy was purchased before 2023, it almost certainly has two key shortcomings: no medical mask and probably no isothermal blanket. These two additions are not cosmetic. They have a reason for existence.

A medical mask protects you and the victim from transmitting pathogens when providing first aid. In an era where we have experienced a respiratory virus pandemic, this no longer needs explanation.

The 210×160 cm isothermal rescue blanket is that thin silver sheet you've seen in accident reports. It maintains an injured person's body temperature until the ambulance arrives. In an accident on the National Road in February, the difference between whether or not the vehicle had a rescue blanket could mean the difference between life and death from hypothermia.

Furthermore, the new model removes some types of bandages that are now considered unnecessary and simplifies the composition. The new packaging is smaller, more organized and easier to use by someone without first aid training.

Traffic Police and MOT Inspection: Fines

Two points will check if you have the correct pharmacy: the Traffic Police on the road and the MOT inspector at the periodic technical inspection of your vehicle.

At the Traffic Police, the absence or incomplete composition of a pharmacy results in an administrative fine 30 eurosbased on Highway Code. It is not the heaviest fine a driver can receive, but it is one of the easiest to avoid, and the Traffic Police asks to see the pharmacy in much more frequent inspections than most drivers think.

At the MOT things are more serious. The existence of a certified pharmacy DIN 13164:2022 is a prerequisite for your vehicle to pass the technical inspection. If you do not have one, you will be asked to re-inspect, with all the cost and hassle that this entails.

Think about it another way: a certified pharmacy costs 13 euros. A re-inspection appointment at the MOT can cost you twice that in hours, fuel and nerves. In the broader category Miscellaneous Products her Olympus Plus You will find all the car safety features in one place.

How do you recognize a genuine, certified pharmacy?

The market is already flooded with «car pharmacies» that look compliant but are actually not. Before you buy, check three things:

1. The indication "DIN 13164:2022" must be clearly visible on the packaging. Not just "DIN 13164", which could mean an older version. Not "DIN compliant", which is marketing language. The full indication with the date of the standard.

2. CE marking on all items. Not just on the box. On every gauze, on every bandage, on the gloves, on the masks. It's the way to know that every individual piece has passed European quality control.

3. Expiration date of at least 5 years. A serious medical device has a shelf life of 5 years from its production. If the pharmacy you see says 2 years, something is wrong either with the quality or the storage before it reaches the shelves.

As a bonus check: the country of manufacture. German, Austrian or Swiss origin usually means stricter compliance with DIN, which is a German standard anyway.

Why Germany's Leina-Werke fits the new standard

In Olympus Plus DIN 13164 Car Pharmacy, Leina-Werke is the German manufacturer that designed the product from the beginning based on DIN 13164:2022. It is not something that was adapted afterwards. It is a German standard, German made.

The 16 items are all present, with CE marking on each one. The two EN 14683 medical masks are included as standard. The 210×160 isothermal rescue blanket is in place. The packaging is waterproof with nylon material and zipper, in a compact design that fits easily in the glove compartment or luggage compartment without getting in the way.

Material shelf life: 5 years from sealing. At a price of 13 euros, the cost-performance ratio is one of the best on the market for a certified German product.

If you want to cover all your car obligations in one purchase, Olympus Plus also offers the centralized emergency kit with fire extinguisher, triangle and first aid kit, which covers the three mandatory items of the KOK in one package. For those who already have a pharmacy and are only looking for a fire extinguisher, there is the foam fire extinguisher 750ml in the same range.

Frequently asked questions

When exactly does the new DIN 13164:2022 standard apply?; Ministerial Decision D30/60123/2026 sets the effective date as January 1, 2027. You therefore have until the end of 2026 to renew your pharmacy before the inspections.

What if I have an old pharmacy that has not expired?; It doesn't matter if your old pharmacy is still valid. If it does not bear the indication "DIN 13164:2022", it is considered non-compliant after 1/1/2027 and you will be asked to replace it either at the MOT or at a Traffic Police inspection.

What exactly is the fine and where is it imposed?; The administrative fine is 30 euros according to the Road Traffic Code. It is imposed upon inspection by the Traffic Police. In the MOT, the absence of a certified pharmacy means failure in the technical inspection and mandatory re-inspection until you comply.

Do two-wheelers need a pharmacy?; No. Two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles, mopeds) are exempt from the obligation due to space. All other vehicles, from small cars to trucks, must carry a DIN 13164:2022 pharmacy.

How long does a proper pharmacy last before it needs replacing?; A quality certified pharmacy like that of Leina-Werke lasts 5 years from its production, as long as the packaging remains sealed and stored in a dry place away from extreme temperatures. After 5 years, the sterility of the material is not guaranteed, even if it has not been opened.

Ioannis Giotis

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