The following document constitutes a formal policy of EP Journals Group. It is intended to be read together with related policies and guidance notes published by the organisation. This policy applies to all journals under the EP Journals Group imprint and is implemented across the organisation on a continuing basis.
Publication frequency across the portfolio is monthly. Where timelines are referenced, they are stated as typical timeframes and may vary by discipline, submission volume, and the requirements of the peer review process. The organisation retains the right to apply additional checks where warranted by a specific case.
Originality and submission conduct
Authors are expected to submit original work that is not under consideration elsewhere. Duplicate submission is treated as a breach of publication ethics. Where overlapping submissions exist, authors must disclose the overlap and provide relevant documentation.
Authors should ensure that the manuscript accurately represents the work conducted. Where the work builds on prior publications, prior work should be cited and the novel contribution should be stated.
Authorship and contributions
The author list should reflect substantive intellectual contribution. All listed authors should approve the final manuscript and agree to submission. Any changes to authorship after submission require a documented explanation and acknowledgement from all authors.
Corresponding authors are expected to coordinate communication with the editorial office and to ensure that co-authors receive relevant information.
Ethics approvals and consent
Where research involves human participants, animals, sensitive data, or regulated materials, authors must obtain appropriate approvals and provide relevant statements in the manuscript. Where informed consent is required, authors should confirm that consent was obtained.
Where approvals cannot be obtained due to jurisdictional constraints, authors must provide an explanation. The organisation may require additional safeguards.
Disclosures and transparency
Authors should disclose conflicts of interest, funding sources, and any relevant relationships that may reasonably be perceived as influencing the work. Disclosures are treated as scholarly metadata.
Where errors are discovered after publication, authors are expected to cooperate with correction or retraction procedures. Because the portfolio is published monthly, timely cooperation supports timely correction of the record.
Policy enquiries
Enquiries regarding interpretation or application of this policy may be directed to the editorial office. Correspondence should identify the relevant journal (if applicable), the manuscript or article identifier (if applicable), and a concise description of the issue.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org