The new mandatory specifications for the car's pharmacy are at the gates, however drivers do not have to put a deep hand in the pocket.
Changes in the mandatory equipment of cars come from the new decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, which redefines the contents of the first-aid kit on the vehicle.
The aim is for the car’s pharmacy to now follow specific modern specifications, with more and clearly defined health equipment to provide first aid in the event of a car accident or other emergency. The relevant rules were adopted by Ministerial Decision D30/45652/2026, published in the ECJ B’ 1804/1.4.2026 concerning road motor vehicles, except for two-wheelers.
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To date, the car’s pharmacy involved a more basic first aid equipment. With the new framework, however, things become much more specific, both in terms of the materials to be present and in terms of their specifications.
In fact, following an amendment to the original decision, the implementation of the new requirements has been postponed and will enter into force from 1 January 2027. From that date, the first aid box should comply with DIN 13164:2022 or equivalent ISO standard and bear the intended marking.
According to the new model, Among other things, they should includeI:
- Isothermal rescue blanket
- Fastening tape sticker roll
- Set of 14 stickers of different dimensions
- Four sterile atomic bandages of different dimensions
- Sterilised burn patch
- Six sterile wound compressions
- Five tyre bandages of different widths
- Triangle suspension bandage
- First aid injuries
- Four disposable gloves
- Two liquid cleaning wipes
- Two medical masks
- First aid instructions and content list.
Special attention is therefore needed when purchasing a new pharmacy, as it is not enough simply to indicate that it is a «car pharmacy». The driver should check that the product meets the new requirements and bears the corresponding DIN certification 13164:2022 or equivalent standard; and should regularly check the status and expiry date of the materials inside it.
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To emphasise once again that the pharmacy is not optional equipment for the car, since the legislation provides for the compulsory existence of a first aid box in vehicles falling within the relevant provision; As with other basic security instruments, such as the warning triangle.
In the event of non-compliance, the infringement falls within category E1-A of the new Road Traffic Code and an administrative fine of EUR 30 is provided.
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However, together with the announcement of the new specifications, it was not long before there was a disturbance around thethe cost the drivers would have to pay to acquire the new pharmacy. Soon, however, it turned out that reality was quite different, as with the increase in availability of new kits prices began to decline.
In fact, during the summer an informal price competition was created between two of the country's largest supermarket chains, at a time when several drivers, on the occasion of the summer holidays, went on to control and renew their car safety equipment, with the cost of the pharmacy kit ranging between 5 and 6 euros.
These offers are no longer available, however they showed that the cost of the new mandatory pharmacy can remain very low. After all, even today, a quick search on the internet is enough to track down a kit. which meet the new standards at prices starting at around 6 euros, with most options being in the 10-11 euros area.
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Therefore, drivers still have enough time until 1 January 2027 to check the pharmacy in their car and, if necessary, replace it with a new one that meets the required specifications, without necessarily entailing significant costs.
