Conflicts of interest and scientific independence
Scope and disclosure
Authors, reviewers, speakers, organisers and scientific decision-makers should disclose relevant financial, professional, institutional and personal interests, including funding, employment, fees, travel support, ownership and advisory roles. Disclose relevant indirect support and relationships with alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, gambling, cannabis and pharmaceutical businesses. A disclosure is not an allegation of misconduct. State explicitly when there are no relevant interests; do not make a declaration on someone else’s behalf without verification.
Independent decisions — proposed procedure
Anyone with a conflict that prevents impartial assessment must withdraw from the affected review or decision. Nobody may assess their own work. The secretariat must arrange an appropriately qualified, unconflicted replacement, including when the concern involves the chair or organiser. If none is available, defer the decision. Record the disclosure and action. Payment or sponsorship must not determine scientific acceptance. These procedures must be operational before this draft is adopted.
Partnership transparency
The existing partnership rules exclude support from tobacco/nicotine, alcohol, gambling and recreational cannabis businesses and organisations owned, funded or controlled by them. A declaration is not independent verification. There is no claim of a blanket pharmaceutical exclusion. Paid visibility and a partner session are offered on the website; they must be clearly identified and separate from peer-reviewed scientific selection. Speaker support must be disclosed. Do not describe the conference as free of financial interests.
Concerns and records — proposed procedure
Send factual concerns to info@icodaas.com with the subject ‘Conflict of interest’. An unconflicted person should assess them, allow a response and document proportionate action, such as correction, reassignment or reassessment. Limit access to declarations, publish only relevant disclosures and follow the privacy notice. Do not promise absolute confidentiality or automatic sanctions.
Before adoption
Confirm an operational owner, actual declarations, independent replacement arrangements and compatibility with existing terms. Record adoption and an effective date. This draft is not SSA endorsement, accreditation, legal certification or a guarantee that no conflict exists.