Act No. 21 of 1974 respecting peasants' co-operative associations.

This Law, consisting of 123 articles, aims at organizing and regulating farmers' associations in Syria. The Law makes a distinction between Cooperatives, Associations and General Unions. The activities of the agricultural organizations include all areas of agricultural, trade union and productive activity in line with the needs of society within the framework of the state plan and its general policy. Each cooperative shall establish an annual program of activities for which its members shall abide by and the rules of procedure shall determine the penalties for violating them (art.10). The Law deals with (i) rules for establishing a cooperative and establishment contract; (ii) terms of membership; (iii) applications for membership; (iv) elections; (v) termination of membership; (vi) internal organization (General Assembly and Council); (vii) financial issues; (ix) agricultural production cooperatives (arts.76-82); (x) exemptions and benefits.
Article 19 establishes that the cooperative shall operate under the supervision of an Association, an Union or a General Union.
The 11 Chapters are entitled as follows: Definitions (i); Agricultural Cooperative (ii); Structure of agricultural organization (III); Financial issues (IV); Agricultural productivity associations (V and VI); Exemption and benefits (VII); Expiry or dissolution of associations (VIII); Sanctions (IX); Control of associations (X); Final and transitional provisions (XI).