Withdrawal Policy

At Critical Reviews in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CRBLS), we understand that there may be situations where authors wish to withdraw their manuscript after submission. This Withdrawal Policy outlines the procedures and conditions under which an author can withdraw their manuscript, as well as the responsibilities and consequences of doing so.

1. Conditions for Withdrawal:

  • Before Peer Review: Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before the peer review process begins. In this case, authors should notify the editorial office immediately, and the manuscript will be removed from the submission system with no further action required. If a submission fee has been paid, the author may be eligible for a refund (subject to the Refund Policy).

  • During Peer Review: If the manuscript has already entered the peer review process, authors may request to withdraw the manuscript, but this request should be made as early as possible. Once peer review has started, the manuscript may have already been evaluated by reviewers, and the author may be required to provide a valid reason for withdrawal. The editorial team will review the request, and the manuscript will be formally withdrawn if the request is approved.

  • After Acceptance: If the manuscript has been accepted for publication but the author wishes to withdraw it, the author must notify the editorial office as soon as possible. The author will need to provide a valid explanation for the withdrawal. If the manuscript has already been processed for publication or is in the production phase, withdrawal may not be possible, and the author may be required to cover any costs incurred up to that point.

  • Post-Publication Withdrawal: Once an article has been published, it is considered part of the journal’s permanent archive, and withdrawal is not possible. In cases of ethical violations or errors, authors may request a retraction rather than a withdrawal. Retraction requests will be reviewed in accordance with the Ethical Review and Research Integrity Policy and COPE guidelines.

2. Procedure for Withdrawal:

  1. Submit a Written Request: Authors wishing to withdraw their manuscript must submit a formal request to the editorial office. The request should include the manuscript ID, title, and a brief explanation for the withdrawal.

  2. Acknowledge the Withdrawal Request: Upon receipt of the withdrawal request, the editorial office will review the request and, if accepted, confirm the withdrawal. The manuscript will be removed from the submission system, and no further action will be taken.

  3. Notification to Reviewers: If the manuscript has been sent to reviewers, the editorial office will notify the reviewers that the manuscript has been withdrawn.

  4. Refund (if applicable): If the manuscript is withdrawn before peer review begins and a submission fee has been paid, the author may be eligible for a refund, subject to the terms of the Refund Policy. No refunds will be issued once the peer review process has started.

3. Consequences of Withdrawal:

  • Impact on Future Submissions: Authors who withdraw their manuscript after the peer review process has begun may face restrictions on future submissions to CRBLS. Repeated withdrawals may result in the author being prohibited from submitting future manuscripts to the journal.

  • Reputation and Transparency: CRBLS encourages authors to carefully consider the decision to withdraw a manuscript, as it may affect the reputation of the research and the credibility of the journal’s editorial process. If a manuscript is withdrawn, the reason for withdrawal may be recorded and noted in the journal’s system.

  • Payment of Costs Incurred: If the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance or after the production process has begun, the author may be required to cover any costs incurred up to that point, including but not limited to editorial processing, peer review, and production fees.

4. Ethical Considerations for Withdrawal:

  • No Duplicate Submissions: Authors must ensure that the manuscript has not been simultaneously submitted to another journal when requesting a withdrawal. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals is considered unethical and may result in a ban from submitting future work to CRBLS.

  • Confidentiality: Once a manuscript has been withdrawn, any documents, correspondence, or materials related to the manuscript should remain confidential and not be shared without permission. Reviewers who have been involved in the peer review process are also expected to maintain confidentiality.

5. Appeal Process:

If an author disagrees with the decision made by the editorial team regarding a withdrawal request or feels that there are special circumstances justifying the withdrawal, they may submit an appeal in writing to the editorial office. The editorial board will review the appeal and make a final decision based on the justification provided.

6. Special Cases:

  • Withdrawal Due to Ethical Concerns: If the reason for withdrawal is related to ethical concerns such as research misconduct, plagiarism, or data falsification, the editorial team will follow the Ethical Review and Research Integrity Policy to address these concerns. Depending on the severity, the manuscript may be formally retracted, or further action may be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines.