2.3 Recognition and measurement – general principle
The general principle underlying IFRS 1 is that a first-time adopter should apply the version of each IFRS effective at the end of its first IFRS reporting
period retrospectively. Therefore, the first IFRS financial statements are presented as if the entity had always applied IFRSs (subject to certain
exemptions and exceptions, as discussed below).
The starting point in IFRS 1 is an opening IFRS statement of financial position prepared at the date of transition to IFRSs.
The date of transition to IFRSs is defined as “the beginning of the earliest period for which an entity presents full comparative information under
IFRSs in its first IFRS financial statements”. The statement of financial position prepared at the date of transition (which is published in the first IFRS
financial statements) is prepared in accordance with IFRS 1, including the general principle of retrospective application, the mandatory exceptions
and the optional exemptions.
Entities are required to apply the same accounting policies in the opening IFRS statement of financial position and throughout all periods presented
in the first IFRS financial statements. An entity may not therefore apply different versions of IFRSs that were effective at earlier dates. However, new