Withdrawal Policy

The International Journal of Experimental Biology typically has a withdrawal policy that outlines the process and conditions under which an author can withdraw a manuscript that has been submitted for publication. This policy is designed to ensure clarity and fairness for both the authors and the journal. Below is a general outline of how a withdrawal policy is typically structured:

1. Withdrawal Before Peer Review:

  • Author's Right to Withdraw: Authors generally have the right to withdraw their manuscript before it enters the peer review process. This is often done without any penalties, but authors may be required to inform the journal promptly.
  • Procedure: To withdraw a manuscript before peer review, the author should notify the editorial office in writing (usually via email) and provide a clear explanation for the withdrawal.

2. Withdrawal During Peer Review:

  • Request for Withdrawal: If the manuscript is in the process of peer review, the author can still request to withdraw the manuscript, but this should be done promptly to avoid wasting reviewers' time.
  • Notification: The author should notify the journal editor or editorial office as soon as possible, explaining the reason for the withdrawal request. In some cases, the author may need to provide a formal explanation for the withdrawal.
  • Reviewers' Work: If the manuscript has already been assigned to reviewers, it is courteous to acknowledge the work of the reviewers, although they are not typically informed about the author's withdrawal decision.

3. Withdrawal After Peer Review but Before Acceptance:

  • After Peer Review: If the manuscript has undergone peer review and the author decides to withdraw the manuscript before the final decision, the author should inform the editor immediately.
  • Justification: The journal may ask the author to provide a reason for withdrawing the manuscript, but authors typically can withdraw without needing to disclose detailed reasons.
  • Impact on Fees: In most cases, the manuscript withdrawal after peer review does not result in a refund of submission or processing fees if those have already been paid.

4. Withdrawal After Acceptance:

  • Limited Scope for Withdrawal: Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, it is much harder to withdraw. Journals generally discourage withdrawal after acceptance because it may affect scheduling, production, and other authors' work.
  • Possible Consequences: If the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance (before publication), some journals may charge an additional administrative fee or require a formal explanation from the author.
  • Rejection and Retraction: If the manuscript has already been published and the author wishes to retract the article, they must follow the journal’s retraction policy. A formal retraction notice is often issued to notify readers about the article's retraction.

5. Fee Considerations:

  • Non-Refundable Fees: If there are any submission, processing, or publication fees associated with the manuscript, these are typically non-refundable, especially after the manuscript has entered the review process or been accepted for publication.
  • Partial Refund: In some rare cases, if the manuscript is withdrawn very early in the process, a partial refund may be considered, but this is generally at the discretion of the journal.

6. Ethical Considerations:

  • Timely Notification: Authors are expected to notify the journal of their intent to withdraw as soon as they make the decision. Delayed withdrawals, especially after peer review or acceptance, can cause significant disruption to the journal's processes.
  • Ethical Standards: The withdrawal policy ensures that the journal maintains transparency, and authors should ensure that their reason for withdrawal does not involve any ethical breaches or misconduct (e.g., submission of the manuscript elsewhere while under review).

7. Resubmission:

  • Possible Resubmission: If a manuscript is withdrawn before a decision is made, authors may be able to resubmit the manuscript in the future, but the resubmission will generally be treated as a new submission, subject to the same review process and guidelines.

8. Public Notification:

  • In some cases, the journal may choose to issue a statement or notice if a manuscript has been withdrawn after a certain stage in the publication process, especially if it is after peer review or acceptance.

If you are considering withdrawing a manuscript or would like to learn more about specific withdrawal steps, it's always a good idea to consult the journal’s submission guidelines or reach out directly to the editorial team for clarification on their specific policy.