In 1995, the ICA updated the Cooperative Principles and adopted a statement that, for the first time, defined a cooperative and set out the cooperative and ethical values that underpin the Principles. The Statement on the Cooperative Identity was meant to be universal, applying to cooperatives of all types located in all parts of the world and operating in all economic sectors.
To assist in interpreting the Identity Statement for their own cooperative or sector of activity, some organisations have prepared cooperative identity declarations.
