Photo: The Canadian Press

A “limited selection” of next-generation cannabis products such as edibles will “gradually” hit retail shelves no earlier than mid-December 2019, Health Canada says.

The Ottawa-based agency on Friday released its final regulations governing these pot products, including topicals and extracts, and indicated the rules will come into force on Oct. 17—exactly one year since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.

However, Health Canada noted that after the law takes effect, federal cannabis licence holders must provide 60 days notice to the agency of their intent to sell new products.

That means that pot-infused brownies, beverages or lotions won’t be available for legal sale until Dec. 17 at the earliest.

“As with any new regulatory framework, federally licensed processors will need time to become familiar with and prepare to comply with the new rules and to produce new products,” Health Canada said in a statement.

“Provincially or territorially authorized distributors and retailers will also need time to purchase and obtain the new products and make them available for sale.”

The final regulations, which will be formally published in the Canada Gazette on June 26, have been highly anticipated by pot industry players well as food, beverage and other consumer goods companies as they develop products to tap anticipated demand.