Complaints Policy of the NAJFNR

The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research (NAJFNR) is deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and journalistic integrity. We strive to publish articles of the utmost quality, free from errors, inaccuracies, and ethical breaches. We recognize that, despite our rigorous processes, concerns or complaints may occasionally arise. Our policy is designed to address all such concerns systematically, fairly, and transparently, in full alignment with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

This statement applies about the policies, our procedures and actions about the complaints received to NAJFNR. We welcome the complaints and try to do our best to fix any issue and solve the matters to the entire satisfaction of our authors. We welcome any type of query or our complaints at the same time. However, we would like to inform our authors and readers to read carefully and understand the instructions to the authors and the policy of our journal.

Our Understanding about Complaints 

1. The meaning of complaint we understand is any type of unhappiness or dissatisfaction regarding the publication and policies of the journal;

2. The complaint may be due to the long delay in publication or a replies related to the author;

3. The complaint may also be about the decision of the editorial board member or the editor in chief regarding the manuscripts of the author;

4. The complaints may be about the rude responses or a misjudgment of the editorial board member too​.

 

Scope of Complaints

This policy covers a range of concerns related to published or submitted manuscripts, including but not limited to:

• Allegations of scientific misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, redundant publication).
• Infringements of intellectual property rights (e.g., copyright violation).
• Significant factual inaccuracies or misleading content.
• Unethical research practices or concerns related to research integrity.
• Editorial or peer review process concerns.

 

Complaints at The NAJFNR are resolved through a process of response and escalation:
• Wherever possible complaints will be dealt with by the relevant member of the editorial staff, escalating to the Co-Editor if required.
• In the case that this initial response is insufficient, the complainant can request for the complaint to be escalated to Associate Section-Editors.
• If the complainant remains unhappy, complaints should be escalated to the Editors-in-Chief, whose decision is final.

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NAJFNR is aware about the following types of complaints:​

• Complaints from the author.
• Complaints about plagiarism.
• Duplicate publication or submitting the article to various journal at the same time.
• Research results misappropriations.
• Complaints regarding the research errors and fraud.
• Violations of research standards.
• Conflicts of interest.
• Bias behavior of reviewers.

 

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1. Policy for Handling Complaints 

 

A. Receiving and Investigating Complaints:

All complaints should be submitted in writing to the journal's editorial office, providing clear details of the concern and any supporting evidence.

Upon receiving a complaint, particularly concerning issues such as infringement of intellectual property rights, factual inaccuracies, unlawful material, or suspected ethical misconduct, NAJFNR will initiate a prompt and thorough investigation. Our dedicated editorial staff and editors are committed to minimizing errors and upholding the quality of the journal. We acknowledge that, despite our best efforts, issues may occasionally arise.

Upon receipt of a complaint, the NAJFNR is committed to:

• Prompt Acknowledgment: An initial acknowledgment of receipt will be sent to the complainant, typically within 2-3 business days, confirming that their concern has been received and outlining the subsequent steps.
• Confidentiality: All complaints will be handled with strict confidentiality.

 

B. Investigation Process

All complaints related to publication ethics or research integrity will undergo a thorough and objective investigation, guided by COPE's core practices and relevant flowcharts. The investigation process is comprehensive and may involve several stages:

• Initial Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief and relevant editorial board members will conduct an initial assessment to determine the nature and seriousness of the complaint.
• Information Gathering: This may include requesting further information or substantiation of claims from the complainant, authors, reviewers, or any other involved parties.
• Expert Consultation: For complex scientific or ethical issues, the journal may consult with external experts or its designated Fact-Finding Committee (FFC).
• Institutional Referral: Consistent with COPE recommendations, the NAJFNR does not act as an adjudicator in authorship disputes or complex allegations of research misconduct. In such cases, or where the journal lacks the necessary authority or investigative capacity, the matter will be formally referred to the authors' affiliated institution(s) for internal investigation and resolution. The journal will await the institution's findings and recommendations.
• Documentation: All stages of the investigation, including communications and decisions, will be meticulously documented.

 

C. Timeframes for Investigation and Resolution

Given the varying complexity of complaints, a precise universal timeline for resolution cannot be guaranteed. However, the NAJFNR is committed to providing a timely and efficient process:

• Acknowledgment: Within 2-3 business days.
• Initial Investigation & Communication of Next Steps: For straightforward matters, an initial assessment and communication of the next steps or preliminary findings may occur within 2-4 weeks.
• Complex Investigations: For complex cases requiring detailed investigation, multiple rounds of communication, or institutional involvement, the process can realistically take several weeks to several months. The journal will endeavor to provide periodic updates to the complainant on the progress of the investigation.

 

Complaint Resolution and Commuinication:

Upon conclusion of the investigation, the NAJFNR will:

• Communicate the Outcome: The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to all relevant parties.
• Implement Corrective Actions: Depending on the findings, corrective actions may be implemented, including but not limited to:
• Publication of a Correction (for minor errors).
• Publication of an Expression of Concern (when an investigation is ongoing or inconclusive).
• Retraction (for confirmed scientific misconduct, as per our policy on Ethical Standards and Action for Plagiarism).
• Issuance of editorial notices or comments.
• Maintain Integrity: The paramount goal throughout the complaint handling process is to maintain the integrity of the published scholarly record and ensure fairness to all involved parties.

We appreciate the diligence of our readers and authors in bringing concerns to our attention, as it is integral to our continuous efforts to enhance the quality and ethical standards of the NAJFNR.

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2. How to Make a Complaint? 

​The complaints of the authors and readers should be sent to the editor in chief as soon as possible on the email via; contact@najfnr.com. You are also welcome to discuss about your complaint on the mobile number of the chief editor which is (+213) 551152261.

The procedure outlined below aims to be fair to those making complaints and those complained about. All complaints will be acknowledged (within three working days if by email). If possible a definitive response will be made within two weeks. If this is not possible an interim response will be given within two weeks. Interim responses will be provided until the complaint is finally resolved.
If the complainant remains unhappy, complaints should be escalated to the Editor-in-Chief, whose decision is final.

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All article published in NAJFNR contain are double-blind peer-reviewed. Our publication ethics and publication malpractice statement is mainly based on the Code of Conduct and Best-Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors (Committee on Publication Ethics, 2011)

The NAJFNR is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes seriously publication malpractice and conflicts of interest. Personal, financial and professional affiliations or relationships can be perceived as conflicts of interest. All authors and all members of NAJFNR’ Editorial Boards are required to disclose any actual and potential conflicts of interest at submission or upon accepting an editorial or review assignment.

The NAJFNR review process is designed to guarantee transparent and objective editorial and review process, and because handling Editor and reviewers' names are made public upon the publication of articles, conflicts of interest will be openly apparent.

​As an author, disclosure of any potential conflict of interest should be done during the submission process. Consider the following questions and make sure you disclose any positive answers. If you failed to disclose any of the potential conflict of interest below during submission, please contact the NAJFNR Editorial Office with the details as soon as possible:​

1. Did you or your institution at any time receive payment or services from a third party for any aspect of the submitted work?
2. Do you have financial relationships with entities that could be perceived to influence, or that give the appearance of potentially influencing, what you wrote in the submitted work?
3. Do you have any patents and copyrights, whether pending, issued, licensed and/or receiving royalties related to the research?
4. Do you have other relationships or activities that readers could perceive to have influenced, or that give the appearance of potentially influencing, what you wrote in the submitted work?

 

3. How to Appeal an Editorial Decision