Planning a summer road trip to Greece with just one standard first-aid kit in the boot? The Greek authorities have given you a bit more breathing space. The rule on the new expanded first-aid kit, which was due to come into force on 18 June 2026, has been pushed back to 1 January 2027.

The Greek government gazette published the postponement decision. The fine for those who don't carry the expanded kit: 30 euros. Not an astronomical sum, but enough to ruin your weekend if you drive to Thessaloniki and the police pull you over for a routine check.

What must the new kit contain? Sixteen specific items. Among them - a thermal rescue blanket, sterile burn dressings, medical masks, single-use gloves, elastic bandages, adhesive plasters, medical scissors, and a first-aid manual. All with a valid expiry date, in suitable condition, and bearing a CE mark in line with European medical device regulations.

The point of the delay is probably that the Greek authorities realised a large slice of European tourists wouldn't have time to buy the expanded kit before summer 2026. And with a 30-euro fine per car, that could've turned into a serious PR problem at the very start of the tourist season.

For Macedonian families who routinely head for the Greek beaches, this is mildly good news - you've got nearly a year to buy the kit and can focus on the real summer problems (public parking, restaurant prices and the temperature of the sand). But don't blow it off - the Greek authorities have already rolled out smart traffic cameras and stepped up checks. When the rule kicks in in 2027, it'll be enforced.

Tip: buy a kit marked EU/DIN 13164:2022. They already contain everything the law requires and are typically under 25 euros at a pharmacy or petrol station. Better a cheap kit at the door than a 30-euro fine for one missing mask.