Abstract

This paper is based on the fact that the adoption of the current general accounting plan (PGC) 2007 and its entry into force in 2008 has changed the framework for the standardized presentation of accounting information of Spanish agricultural cooperatives. So, the sector accounting adjustment for the cooperative entities contained in the Order of December 16, 2003 has required a deep review under the amendments made by the PGC 2007, since a large part of its content was obsolete or was contrary to the new rules of PGC 2007, which has resulted in the adoption of a new accounting regulation specific to the cooperative sector, which entered into force on January 1, 2011. Thus, this study develops a comparative analysis between the two regulatory standards, in order to check whether it has increased the usefulness of the accounting system as a tool for decision making in the field of agricultural cooperation, so as to raise the effectiveness and efficiency of economic management of these specific entities.

Key words: Agricultural cooperatives, accounting reform, sector accounting plan, financial information, international financial reporting standards.