EFSA Journal Template
Get your EFSA Journal paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the EFSA Journal Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 10 August, 2026
Submitting to EFSA Journal goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the EFSA Journal guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the EFSA Journal Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to EFSA Journal. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the EFSA Journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an EFSA J submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the EFSA Journal guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the EFSA Journal guide for authors before you submit.
What does this EFSA Journal Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal's submission system.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for EFSA J.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the EFSA Journal guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through the journal's submission system.
EFSA Journal Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | EFSA J requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The EFSA Journal does not provide specific abstract requirements in its author guidelines because it does not accept external submissions. From examination of published EFSA outputs, abstracts appear as unstructured narrative paragraphs with no specified word limit. The journal only publishes scientific outputs produced internally by EFSA's Scientific Committees and Panels |
| Main text | - No main-text word limits or section order requirements are specified in the EFSA Journal guidelines, as the journal does not accept external submissions. Content structure varies by output type (Scientific Opinion, Statement, Guidance, Conclusion, Reasoned Opinion, Scientific Report) |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | - Keywords are not required or used in EFSA Journal publications. Examination of published EFSA scientific outputs shows no keyword sections |
| References | EFSA's own citation format (not a named standard style). Format: Author Surname Initial(s), Year. Article title. Journal Name, Volume, Page numbers. DOI/URL. Example: 'Aureli F, Ciprotti M, D'Amato M, et al., 2020. Determination of total silicon and SiO2 particles using an ICP-MS based analytical platform for toxicokinetic studies of synthetic amorphous silica. Nanomaterials, 10, 888. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10050888' |
| Peer review | Internal EFSA peer review process: Scientific outputs are produced by expert Working Groups, then subject to scrutiny and review by the relevant Scientific Panel before adoption. The process follows the peer review principles established by the Network of EU agencies providing Scientific Advice (ANSA). This is not traditional single-blind, double-blind, or open peer review - it is an internal panel-based review and adoption process specific to EFSA's regulatory science outputs |
| Submission | journal submission portal (see author guide) |
Quick Tips for Using the EFSA Journal Template
Read the EFSA Journal guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to EFSA Journal in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent EFSA J papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the EFSA Journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the EFSA Journal guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal's submission system.
