Metrc (New York) Bulletin NY_IB_0012 (distributed 03/23/2026; effective 03/31/2026 and ongoing) explains how to correctly use the Finished Goods designation and Retail Item ID QR codes in Metrc for products moving from distributors to dispensaries. This article breaks down what qualifies as a finished good, when to generate and apply Retail Item IDs, how allotments and adjustments work, and the practical day-to-day workflow impact for New York cannabis operators.
What changes on March 31, 2026 (New York)
Requirement: Starting March 31, 2026, all cannabis products transferred from licensed distributors (including microbusinesses performing distribution activities) to dispensaries must have (1) a Finished Goods designation assigned to each Package UID in Metrc and (2) a Retail Item ID physically attached to each unit.
Operational impact: This effectively ties your packaging line, label printing/applying, and Metrc package management together—if the unit leaves distribution without the correct Metrc flags and unit-level QR labels, intake at retail and downstream traceability can be disrupted.
What Metrc means by “Finished Good” packages
Definition (in this bulletin): Finished Good Packages are packages in Metrc that represent products in their final, consumer-ready form: count-based units that are individually packaged and ready for sale to an end consumer.
Examples of Finished Good packages
• Strain-specific flower units that are individually packaged (for example, 3.5g units) and tracked as a count of units in the Metrc package
• Gummies from the same batch that are individually packaged and tracked as units
• Vape cartridges from the same batch that are individually packaged and tracked as units
Examples that are not Finished Good packages
• Bulk raw plant material packages (including flower and shake/trim) that are not in final, unit-level packaging
• Volume- or weight-based items such as concentrates or extracts when they are not in count-based, individually packaged retail units
• Oil or other intermediates intended to be used to create other products (for example, bulk oil for tinctures)
What a Retail Item ID is in New York
Definition (New York): A Retail Item ID is a unique digital identifier presented as a QR code that is assigned to each unit within a Finished Good package.
Why it matters: The bulletin describes Retail Item IDs as enabling smoother retail identification and intake, extending recall capability to individual units, improving consumer safety and visibility, and supporting proof of purchase.
How they’re consumed: Retail Item IDs are ordered in Metrc and deducted from your available allotment when used for Finished Good packages.
Best practices: when to (and not to) designate Finished Goods
Do not mark a package as Finished Goods or generate Retail Item IDs if
• The package is created directly from a harvest (bulk)
• The package is not count-based
• The package is in transit
• The package is empty and finished (in the Inactive Packages tab)
• The package is discontinued
• The package has had child package(s) created from it
• The package was created as a lab sample
Do mark a package as Finished Goods and generate Retail Item IDs if
• The package is in its final form as individually packaged units
• The package is count-based
• The package is not in transit
• The package is not empty and finished (it remains in Active Packages)
• The package is not discontinued
• No child packages have been created from it
How to designate Finished Goods in Metrc (New York)
Option 1: Create a new Finished Good package from bulk
Workflow: When converting bulk material into a consumer-ready, count-based package, create a new package in Metrc using the finished good item name and select the Finished Good designation.
Metrc navigation (as described): Active Packages → New Package → select the finished good item name → check the Finished Good checkbox → save.
Option 2: Designate an existing active package as Finished Goods
Workflow: If you already have an active package that is truly consumer-ready and count-based, you can apply the Finished Good designation after the fact.
Metrc navigation (as described): Active Packages → select the package → click the Finished Goods button.
Data integrity note: If a package has Retail Item IDs on physical units but the Metrc package is missing the Finished Good flag, the bulletin instructs operators to contact Metrc Support so the digital record matches the physical labeling.
How to confirm: Use the Packages grid and review the F.G. column for “Yes” or “No.”
How Retail Item IDs are generated, deducted, and adjusted
Ordering: Retail Item IDs must be ordered in Metrc and are digital (no shipping).
Generation: When a package is designated as a Finished Good, Retail Item IDs are automatically generated (if they weren’t already generated earlier through staging/labeling steps) and deducted from your allotment.
Allotment basis: Allotment is based on the quantity of units in the Finished Good package, not on the number of extra IDs you may have to generate due to printing or labeling issues.
Example (from the bulletin): A Finished Good package with 100 units deducts 100 from allotment even if additional Retail Item IDs are generated to resolve printing/labeling problems; if the package is later corrected down by 5 units due to a miscount, 5 Retail Item IDs are returned to the allotment.
Important one-way rule: Designating a package as Finished Goods triggers Retail Item ID QR code generation; generating Retail Item ID QR codes by itself does not designate a package as Finished Goods.
Adjustments after creation: The location that originally created the Finished Good package can adjust the package up or down, and the difference is reflected in Retail ID allotments; after repackaging, only adjustments below the originally reported quantity can be made to the repackaged Finished Good inventory.
How to order Retail Item IDs in Metrc
Metrc navigation (as described): Admin menu → Retail Item ID → New Retail Item ID Order.
Order details: Enter the count needed and any required information; the bulletin notes no shipping is required because Retail Item IDs are digital only.
How to confirm they exist on a package: In the Packages grid, look for the Retail Item ID QR code icon associated with the Finished Good package.
Repackaging Finished Goods: the “Same Item” decision
Why this matters operationally: When splitting or repackaging Finished Goods, the “Same Item” selection is the key control that determines whether Metrc carries forward Finished Good designation and Retail Item ID lineage from the Original Source Package Label into the new packages.
Select “Same Item” when: The product hasn’t changed (same form, category, and composition). Metrc should carry Finished Good designation and Retail Item ID lineage through to the new packages automatically.
Do not select “Same Item” when: You are combining different sources or changing the product. In that scenario, Finished Good lineage resets and you must manually designate the new packages as Finished Goods (per the bulletin’s Option 2 workflow).
Common issue called out: If child packages after repackage are missing Finished Good designation, the bulletin notes the most common cause is failing to choose “Same Item.” If units are physically labeled with Retail IDs but Metrc does not reflect Finished Goods, contact Metrc Support with the Package UID and an example Retail Item ID from a unit to request correction.
COA visibility and missing COAs on Retail Item IDs (New York)
Testing facility responsibility: New York testing facilities must upload the COA document (PDF) along with test results directly into Metrc.
If a COA is missing: First confirm the lab uploaded the COA PDF; if the PDF exists but is not showing on the Retail Item ID, submit a case to Metrc Support.
Permissions: Ensure your user role has package view permissions to see COA documentation.
Practical tip: If inventory lacks COA documentation on the source package after testing, the bulletin directs operators to contact the testing facility that performed the analysis and request they upload the COA PDF into Metrc for the sample.
Day-to-day implications for New York distributors and dispensaries
Packaging and labeling alignment: Your packaging line should be designed so a package is only marked Finished Goods when it is truly final, count-based, and not going to be split again; otherwise you risk wasted Retail Item IDs, correction requests, or shipment delays.
Shipping readiness: Because the requirement applies to transfers from distribution to retail, distribution teams should verify (1) Finished Goods = Yes in Metrc, and (2) a Retail Item ID QR label is physically attached to every unit before manifesting and shipping.
Recall and unit traceability: Unit-level Retail Item IDs strengthen the ability to isolate affected units during investigations or recalls, but only if physical labels and Metrc records stay synchronized through repacks and adjustments.
Tools to support Retail Item ID labeling and compliance
DistruLabels (free): DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels, helping teams print and apply unit-level labels in a way that supports Metrc Retail Item ID workflows and reduces relabeling friction on the production floor.
DistruERP for larger operators: For multi-site or higher-volume operations that need end-to-end supply chain management (purchasing, production, inventory, sales, and compliance workflows), DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed to coordinate operational data with compliance requirements.
Learn more: https://www.distru.com
Where to get help
Metrc Support: The bulletin directs operators to submit and track cases via the Metrc Support portal or call 877-566-6506 for assistance, especially when physical labels and Metrc package flags do not match.
Metrc training and documentation: Metrc Learn and the in-app Metrc Expert knowledge base provide workflow guidance and step-by-step help specific to New York processes.
Metrc website: https://www.metrc.com
