November 2025
 

ICMJE removes list of journals claiming compliance with its recommendations
 

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has officially announced the discontinuation of its public list of journals that claim to follow its recommendations. Listed journals were never official members of the ICMJE, and their inclusion did not imply certification or endorsement. The committee originally maintained the list to encourage adherence to its standards, but ultimately determined it could not verify which journals followed its recommendations.

In a related editorial, ICMJE explains that it could no longer verify the accuracy of journal self-reporting, and that continuing to host the list could give a false sense of legitimacy to some potentially predatory journals and publishers. To reflect this change, the ICMJE has updated its official recommendations, with an annotated PDF detailing modifications made both in this April update and in January 2025.