Plagiarism policy

The European Chemistry and Biotechnology Journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and strictly prohibits all forms of plagiarism. Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

Copying text, ideas, data, figures, or images from other sources without proper citation;
Substantial overlap with previously published work, including the authors’ own publications (self-plagiarism);
Paraphrasing content without appropriate acknowledgment of the original source;
Presenting others’ work as one’s own.

Similarity Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened for textual similarity using iThenticate or an equivalent plagiarism detection software before peer review.

A similarity report is evaluated by the editorial office.
There is no single acceptable similarity threshold; manuscripts are assessed based on the nature, location, and context of overlapping content.
Overlap in methods, references, or commonly used technical phrases may be acceptable if properly cited.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Similarity

Minor similarity arising from standard terminology, methodological descriptions, or properly cited quotations may be acceptable.
Extensive similarity, particularly in the introduction, results, discussion, or conclusions, is considered unacceptable.
Duplicate publication or substantial overlap with previously published articles may result in rejection.

Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

Authors must avoid reusing substantial portions of their own previously published work without appropriate citation and justification.

Manuscripts that substantially overlap with the authors’ prior publications may be rejected.
Any related manuscripts or prior publications must be disclosed at the time of submission.

Editorial Actions

If plagiarism is suspected before publication:

The manuscript may be returned to the authors for clarification or revision; or
The manuscript may be rejected if the overlap is deemed significant.

If plagiarism is identified after publication:

The journal may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the severity of the case;
Relevant institutions or funding bodies may be informed, in accordance with COPE guidelines.