International Journal of Veterinary Research and Allied Sciences is committed, at every level of its publication process, to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct. This commitment is grounded in leading international guidelines — most notably the principles set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
The journal's ethical framework rests on transparency, accountability, and the trust that authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher place in one another throughout the scholarly process.
1. Foundation of Ethical Research and Publication
Where a submission involves human subjects, human-derived materials, or identifiable personal data, the journal expects strict adherence to the ethical principles set out in the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki, alongside the recommendations of the ICMJE.
The full text of the Declaration of Helsinki can be found here: https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/
2. Research Involving Human and Animal Subjects, and Vulnerable Populations
Human subjects: Any study involving human participants, data, or materials must demonstrate clear compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors are required to confirm that the study was reviewed and approved by an appropriate ethics committee, such as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or its equivalent, and to name that committee in the manuscript.
Informed consent: Documented informed consent — from participants themselves or, where applicable, their legal guardians — is required and must be explicitly stated in the manuscript.
Vulnerable populations: Some studies involve participants who are particularly susceptible to coercion or undue influence, including minors, individuals with cognitive impairments, or institutionalized individuals. Where such groups are involved, authors are asked to explain why their inclusion was necessary, describe how informed consent or assent was obtained, and outline the steps taken to protect participants' privacy, dignity, and rights.
Animal subjects: Research involving animals must conform to institutional, national, and international standards for animal care and welfare. Authors must confirm that procedures were designed to minimize pain and distress, and that appropriate approval was obtained from a recognized animal ethics body, such as an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
Legal provenance of animal specimens: Where a study involves wildlife, wild-caught animals, or biological material from wild populations, authors must confirm that specimens were obtained and handled in accordance with applicable wildlife protection laws, including CITES and relevant national conservation legislation. Permit or licence numbers should be stated where applicable. The journal will not consider work based on specimens obtained through illegal collection, poaching, or unauthorized trade.
3. Handling Misconduct, Corrections, and Retractions
The journal follows COPE's Core Practices and Guidelines when addressing allegations of publication malpractice — including data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and duplicate submission.
Corrections: Where a published article contains a significant error that does not undermine the validity of its findings, a formal Correction Notice will be issued, linked to the original article, describing the nature of the error and the correction made.
Retractions: Articles may be retracted where research misconduct or a serious ethical breach is confirmed. A Retraction Notice, stating the grounds for retraction, will be published and will remain linked to the article.
Investigating misconduct: Allegations are investigated in line with COPE guidelines. The publisher and editors share responsibility for opening an investigation, contacting the authors' institution where necessary, and taking appropriate action.
4. Responsibilities of Stakeholders
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Stakeholder |
Key Responsibility |
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Publisher |
Keeps editorial decisions free from commercial or political influence, and safeguards the integrity of the published record through corrections, retractions, and transparency. |
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Editors |
Ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely review process; declare any conflicts of interest; protect the confidentiality of authors and reviewers; base decisions solely on scientific merit and COPE guidance. |
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Reviewers |
Maintain confidentiality, provide objective and constructive feedback, declare conflicts of interest, and flag ethical concerns or overlap with previously published work. |
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Authors |
Present accurate data, cite sources appropriately, disclose conflicts of interest, and ensure their work meets the journal's ethical requirements, including ethics approval and informed consent where relevant. |
5. Authorship, Originality, and Data Integrity
Originality and plagiarism: Submissions must represent original, unpublished work.
Authorship (ICMJE criteria): Authorship must reflect substantial contribution, as defined by ICMJE. Any change to the author list requires written consent from all authors.
Data availability: Authors must be able to provide relevant source data upon reasonable request, in support of research reproducibility.
Use of Generative AI tools: Any use of generative AI tools in preparing a manuscript must be disclosed by the authors. AI may assist with language, grammar, or formatting, but the scientific content, analysis, and conclusions must originate from — and be independently verified by — the authors. AI tools cannot be credited as authors, and their use does not shift responsibility away from the authors for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript. Full details are set out in the journal's Generative AI Usage Policy.
Harassment Policy
The journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment or discrimination directed at authors, reviewers, editors, or staff.
