Withdrawal Policy

The Life Sciences and Environmental Research Journal (LSERJ) understands that there may be circumstances in which authors need to withdraw their manuscript after submission. This Withdrawal Policy outlines the procedures and conditions for withdrawing a manuscript, ensuring transparency and fairness for both authors and the editorial team.

Conditions for Withdrawal:

• Before Peer Review: Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before the peer review process begins. To do so, the author must submit a formal withdrawal request in writing to the editorial office. Upon receipt of the withdrawal request, the manuscript will be officially removed from the submission system, and no further action will be taken.

• After Peer Review Begins: If the manuscript has entered the peer review stage, authors may still request to withdraw it; however, this request must be made as soon as possible. Once the manuscript is sent to reviewers, the editorial office will inform the author about the status of the review process. In this case, the author will be required to explain the reason for the withdrawal, and the manuscript will be formally retracted from the review process once confirmed.

• After Acceptance: Manuscripts that have been accepted for publication cannot be withdrawn without strong justification. If an author wishes to withdraw a manuscript after acceptance but before the article has been published, the author will be required to notify the editorial office promptly. The editorial team will assess the reason for withdrawal, and if the withdrawal is approved, the author may be charged a withdrawal fee to cover administrative and processing costs incurred during the review and acceptance stages.

• Post-Publication Withdrawal: After an article has been published, no withdrawal is allowed. Once an article has been published online or in print, it is considered a final and permanent part of the journal's published content. In exceptional cases of ethical violations or publication errors, LSERJ will consider retraction of the article, rather than withdrawal. Retractions are handled according to the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Procedures for Withdrawal:

1. Written Request: The author must submit a formal withdrawal request to the editorial office. The request should include the manuscript ID, title, and the reason for withdrawal. If applicable, the author should explain the reason for the request, especially in cases where the manuscript has already entered the peer review or acceptance process.

2. Review of Request: The editorial office will review the withdrawal request to determine its validity. If the manuscript has not yet entered the review process, it will be promptly removed from consideration. If the manuscript is in the review or acceptance stage, the author will be notified of the status of their withdrawal request.

3. Final Decision: Upon approval of the withdrawal request, the manuscript will be removed from the journal's system. The author will receive confirmation of withdrawal and an official statement from the editorial office. If applicable, the manuscript will be marked as "withdrawn" in the journal’s records.

Non-Refundable Fees in Case of Withdrawal:

• If the manuscript is withdrawn after submission fees have been paid but before the peer review process begins, the fees are generally refundable (minus any administrative costs, as per the Refund Policy).
• If the manuscript is withdrawn after the peer review process has started, submission fees are non-refundable.
• If the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance, publication fees are non-refundable.

Reasons for Withdrawal:
Common reasons authors may withdraw their manuscript include:

• Author’s Decision: The author may no longer wish to publish the manuscript with LSERJ due to personal reasons or a change in research direction.
• Duplicate Submission: The manuscript has been submitted to another journal during the review process.
• Ethical Concerns: The author may withdraw the manuscript due to ethical issues in the research, such as data manipulation or failure to meet ethical standards.
• Conflict with Co-Authors: In cases where disagreements between authors arise, resulting in the need to withdraw the manuscript.

Ethical Considerations for Withdrawal:

LSERJ encourages authors to carefully consider the implications of withdrawing their manuscript, as withdrawal may affect the journal’s editorial planning and disrupt the peer review process. Authors should communicate openly with the editorial office about any issues or concerns that may necessitate withdrawal.

This Withdrawal Policy ensures that the process of withdrawing a manuscript is conducted fairly, transparently, and with consideration for the resources invested by both the authors and the editorial team.