The Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics (JND) is committed to supporting authors from low-income, under-resourced, or otherwise disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure equitable access to scholarly publishing. While JND charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) of USD 50for accepted articles to cover publication costs, authors who are unable to pay the APC may request a full or partial waiver.

This policy ensures that financial constraints do not prevent authors from publishing high-quality research in Nutrition and Dietetics.

1. Eligibility for Waivers

Waivers may be considered for authors who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Geographic Location: Authors based in low- and lower-middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank.
• Financial Hardship: Authors who can demonstrate personal or institutional financial constraints, including lack of funding, limited research support, or unfunded projects.
• Special Circumstances: Cases where authors face extraordinary barriers that prevent them from covering publication costs.

Eligibility is assessed solely for financial need and does not affect the editorial or peer-review process.

2. Scope of Waivers

• Full Waiver: Covers 100% of the APC, allowing authors to publish without any cost.
• Partial Waiver: Covers a portion of the APC, with the author paying a reduced fee based on individual circumstances.

The extent of the waiver is determined on a case-by-case basis by the Editor-in-Chief.

3. Application Procedure

To request a waiver, authors should follow these steps:

1. Timing: Submit the waiver request after the manuscript has been accepted for publication. Waiver requests cannot be considered during peer review to preserve editorial independence.
2. Submission: Send the request by email to the Editorial Office.
3. Justification: Include a brief statement explaining why a waiver is needed, outlining financial constraints or funding limitations.
4. Decision: The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the request and communicates the outcome directly to the corresponding author.

Important: The waiver decision is independent of manuscript acceptance. Peer review and editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit.

4. Principles and Considerations

1. Equity and Inclusion: JND is committed to reducing barriers to publication for authors in under-resourced regions or institutions.
2. Transparency: All waiver requests are evaluated fairly, consistently, and confidentially.
3. Editorial Independence: Editors and reviewers remain blind to APC payment status or waiver requests to ensure unbiased decisions.
4. Flexibility: Partial waivers may be offered to accommodate authors who can contribute a portion of the APC.

5. Documentation and Record-Keeping

• Waiver requests and approvals are securely documented by the Editorial Office.
• Records are maintained for audit and reporting purposes, ensuring transparency in waiver allocation.

6. Communication to Authors

• Authors are notified promptly via email.
• If a partial waiver is granted, the adjusted APC and payment instructions are clearly communicated.
• All communications emphasize that the waiver does not affect editorial decisions or publication timelines.