This guidance applies to Metrc (New York) and comes from Metrc Support Bulletin NY_IB_0010, created with the Office of Cannabis Management. It explains the updated 5% transfer variance rule, how to properly receive incoming transfers in Metrc, how to correct discrepancies after receipt, and how to return unwanted units back to the originating facility while keeping your inventory accurate and audit-ready.
Bulletin overview: NY transfer variances in Metrc
New York licensees must closely match what is received to what was shipped on a transfer. This bulletin tightens transfer receiving controls by reducing the allowed variance between shipped and received package quantities to up to 5%.
In practical terms, this means your receiving staff must verify counts at the time of delivery and explicitly confirm receipt when the variance is within the allowed threshold.
New York Metrc 5% transfer variance rule
Metrc now requires licensees to confirm when they are accepting packages with a variance of up to 5% between the shipped quantity and the physically received quantity.
- Variance up to 5%: You may receive the package, but you must confirm the variance during the receiving workflow.
- Variance over 5%: Metrc will not allow you to accept the package into your inventory.
Operational impact: Receiving teams should treat this as a dock-to-Metrc control point. If your receiving count is off by more than 5%, you should pause acceptance and coordinate with the shipper before the transfer is finalized in Metrc.
How to receive an incoming transfer in Metrc (NY)
To receive an incoming transfer, go to the Transfers area in Metrc and locate the incoming transfer/packages listed for your facility. When you select the receive action for a package, Metrc will prompt you to confirm what you are physically receiving.
If there is a variance (but it is within the allowed 5%), enter the quantity you physically received and confirm the variance in the receiving window so that the receipt reflects the real-world count.
Operational impact: This step is where many downstream problems begin or are prevented. Accurate receiving entries reduce later adjustments, investigation time, and reconciliation work during audits.
Handling discrepancies after you accepted inventory
If you discover a discrepancy after the inventory has already been accepted into your Metrc inventory, the bulletin instructs licensees to correct the package quantity using a package adjustment.
Adjusting a package to the correct physical count
Open the accepted package in your inventory and use the Adjust function.
- Select Entry Error as the adjustment reason.
- In the required note, document what happened with the transfer discrepancy in clear detail (what was expected, what was received, and why the change is being made).
- Enter the adjustment amount needed to reach the correct on-hand quantity. If you are decreasing the package quantity, use a negative value (for example, -2 units) to reduce the package.
Operational impact: “Entry Error” adjustments can draw attention in reviews because they change historical inventory records. Strong internal controls (receiving counts, documented discrepancies, and consistent notes) help explain why the adjustment was necessary and support defensible compliance records.
How to return unwanted units to the originating facility
If you receive an incoming transfer and it contains more units than requested, the bulletin’s process is to accept the transfer first (so the inventory is in your account) and then initiate a return via a new package and a new transfer.
Step 1: Receive the transfer to initiate a return
Metrc requires the inventory to exist in your facility before you can create the return transfer. That means you must first complete receipt in Metrc (within the 5% variance rule).
Step 2: Repackage the unwanted quantity into a new Package UID
Create a New Package from the received package for the quantity you intend to return. This generates a new Package UID specifically for the returned units.
Physically place the returned products into the appropriate container(s) and apply the new Package UID label to those container(s) so your physical inventory matches Metrc.
Step 3: Create a new transfer back to the originating facility
From the newly created return package, initiate a New Transfer, select the originating facility as the destination, and register the transfer in Metrc.
Operational impact: This workflow creates a clean chain of custody. It also prevents “phantom inventory” problems by ensuring the exact units being returned are isolated into their own Metrc package and properly labeled before leaving your premises.
Day-to-day compliance implications for NY operators
This bulletin changes receiving and reconciliation routines in ways that affect daily operations:
- Tighter receiving tolerances: Over-shipments and short-shipments can no longer be casually accepted if they exceed 5% variance, increasing the need for accurate pick/pack/ship processes and careful receiving counts.
- More disciplined documentation: If adjustments are needed after receipt, your notes should clearly explain the discrepancy to support audits and internal investigations.
- Returns require repackaging: Extra units must be repackaged into a new Package UID before being transferred back, so facilities need a repeatable physical workflow for isolating, labeling, and staging returns.
Labeling and Metrc Retail ID support with Distru
Accurate package identity and labeling are critical when repackaging returned quantities into a new Package UID. DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels, and it can help operations stay aligned with Metrc Retail ID requirements by producing consistent, scannable labels for workflows like receiving, repackaging, and returns.
For larger, multi-department operations that need end-to-end visibility, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed to support complete supply chain management, including inventory, manufacturing, distribution, and compliance workflows that connect day-to-day operations to Metrc reporting.
Metrc support resources referenced in the bulletin
If you need help applying this guidance, Metrc provides support and training resources:
- Metrc Support (Service Cloud): Use the support portal at https://support.metrc.com (also accessible from within Metrc via the Support dropdown). First-time access typically requires your state selection, facility license number, and an email to set a password.
- Metrc Learn: Metrc’s training platform offers role-based and facility-specific learning paths. Access it via the Metrc Learn link within Metrc resources or Metrc’s training pages.
- In-app resources: From the Support dropdown inside Metrc, access guides, manuals, and other educational materials.
Source: Metrc Support Bulletin NY_IB_0010 (Distribution Date: 03/17/2026; Effective Date: Ongoing), subject “Transfer Variances.”
