Referee and editor's guide

Referee and Editor’s Guide

The European Chemistry and Biotechnology Journal (EUCHEMBIOJ) is committed to ensuring a fair, objective, and transparent peer review process in accordance with internationally accepted ethical standards.

This guide outlines the core responsibilities of reviewers (referees) and editors involved in the evaluation of manuscripts submitted to the journal.

Peer Review Model

EUCHEMBIOJ applies a double-blind peer review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed throughout the evaluation process.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Conduct reviews objectively, constructively, and professionally;
  • Evaluate manuscripts based solely on scientific merit, originality, and methodological rigor;
  • Treat all manuscripts and related materials as confidential;
  • Refrain from using unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal advantage;
  • Promptly disclose any conflicts of interest and decline review where appropriate;
  • Alert the editor to any ethical concerns, including suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, or redundant publication.

Requests for citation of the reviewer’s own work must be made only for genuine scientific reasons and not for personal or bibliometric gain.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring that the peer review process is fair, impartial, and timely;
  • Selecting reviewers with appropriate expertise and without conflicts of interest;
  • Making editorial decisions based solely on scientific quality and relevance;
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of manuscripts and reviewer identities;
  • Avoiding any involvement in the evaluation of manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists;
  • Addressing ethical concerns and allegations of misconduct in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Editors must not attempt to influence journal metrics or citation patterns for non-scientific reasons.

Handling Ethical Issues

Editors and reviewers are required to adhere to the ethical principles recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

When ethical concerns arise, appropriate actions—including corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern—may be taken to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.