Appeals and Complaints Policy
Table of content
Appeals
Complaints
Complaint Investigation Procedure
Ethical Complaints and Misconduct Allegations
Confidentiality
Protection Against Retaliation
Continuous Improvement
Contact Information
The International Journal of Halal Industry (IJHI) is committed to maintaining fairness, transparency, accountability, and integrity throughout the editorial and publication process. The journal recognizes the right of authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to raise concerns, submit complaints, or appeal editorial decisions when appropriate.
All appeals and complaints will be handled in a fair, impartial, confidential, and timely manner, in accordance with the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Appeals
Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe that a decision was based on a misunderstanding, procedural error, or factual inaccuracy.
Appeals may be submitted regarding:
• Manuscript rejection decisions;
• Editorial decisions following peer review;
• Alleged procedural irregularities during the review process;
• Concerns regarding the fairness or objectivity of the editorial evaluation.
Appeals must:
• Be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office;
• Clearly explain the grounds for the appeal;
• Provide supporting evidence or relevant documentation where applicable; and
• Be submitted within a reasonable period following the editorial decision.
Upon receiving an appeal, the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor not previously involved in the decision may review the case. Additional independent reviewers or editorial board members may be consulted if necessary.
The outcome of the appeal may include:
• Upholding the original decision;
• Reconsideration of the manuscript;
• Requesting additional peer review; or
• Revising the editorial decision where appropriate
The decision reached after the appeal review shall be considered final.
Complaints
IJHI welcomes complaints related to the journal’s editorial processes, publication practices, ethical standards, or professional conduct.
Complaints may concern:
• Editorial procedures;
• Peer-review processes;
• Publication ethics;
• Alleged conflicts of interest;
• Research misconduct;
• Authorship disputes;
• Delays in editorial handling;
• Allegations of discrimination, harassment, or unprofessional conduct; or
• Any other matter related to the operation of the journal.
Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office and should include sufficient details to enable an appropriate investigation.
Complaint Investigation Procedure
All complaints will be reviewed carefully and confidentially by the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriate member of the Editorial Board.
Where necessary, the journal may:
• Request additional information from the complainant;
• Seek clarification from the individuals involved;
• Consult independent experts or editorial board members;
• Contact relevant institutions or organizations when appropriate.
The journal will make every reasonable effort to resolve complaints promptly, fairly, and transparently.
Ethical Complaints and Misconduct Allegations
Complaints involving publication ethics, plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, or other forms of research misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy and Research Misconduct Policy, as well as relevant COPE guidelines.
Confidentiality
The journal will maintain confidentiality throughout the appeals and complaints process to the extent possible. Information will be disclosed only to individuals directly involved in the investigation and resolution of the matter.
Protection Against Retaliation
Individuals who submit appeals or complaints in good faith will not be subject to discrimination, retaliation, or adverse treatment as a result of raising legitimate concern.
Continuous Improvement
IJHI views appeals and complaints as opportunities to improve the quality, transparency, and effectiveness of its editorial and publishing processes. Feedback received through this mechanism may be used to enhance journal policies and practices.
Contact Information
Appeals and complaints should be submitted to the Editorial Office of the International Journal of Halal Industry (IJHI) using the contact information provided on the journal website.
The journal is committed to addressing all appeals and complaints professionally, respectfully, and in accordance with internationally recognized standards of ethical publishing.