This policy comes into effect on June 2nd 2025    

Scope

This policy applies to Cochrane groups or units, the Governing Board, the Editorial Board, and any other Cochrane affiliate categories. It uses the phrase “Cochrane entity” to refer to all within scope of this policy. This policy is separate to, but complements, the  Conflict of Interest Policy for Cochrane Library Content. 

Governance and declarations

The funding sources of Cochrane entities are monitored annually by the Charity.  

All core volunteer roles or staff in Cochrane entities are required to complete the relevant Declaration of Interest form annually, and / or whenever their circumstances change. Declarations are publicly available.

If anyone within the scope of this policy submits content to the Cochrane Library, Cochrane Evidence Synthesis or Methods, or other Cochrane product, they should declare their position in their author declaration of interest forms, and (if applicable), a statement that they were not involved in the editorial process for that specific content should be included in the ‘declarations of interest’ section of the submission.

Violations of this policy may result in the removal of roles and potential de-registration of the relevant Cochrane entity by the Governing Board. 

This policy is not intended to be exhaustive; if there are any queries about the application of this policy, please contact the Cochrane’s Research Integrity team by emailing researchintegrity@cochrane.org.

Funding sources of Cochrane entities

Cochrane entities are not permitted to accept funds from commercial sponsors or commercial sources that have a financial interest in the topic areas covered by the Cochrane Library.

Financial interests

Financial interests refer to payments made directly to an individual. Individuals this policy applies to cannot be employed by a pharmaceutical or medical devices company, in alignment with Cochrane membership terms and conditions. Individuals must also declare any financial interests annually:

• Members of the Governing Board must declare any financial interest in the work of Cochrane within the past 10 years. 

• Core volunteer roles or staff of Cochrane groups or units must declare any financial interest in the broad topic area of your group/unit within the past 36 months. 

• Members of the Editorial Board must declare any financial interest in Cochrane Library content or production within the past 36 months. 

• Core volunteer roles or staff of other Cochrane affiliate categories must declare any financial interest relating to commercial organisations involved in health care or medical research within the past 36 months.

In addition, core volunteer roles and staff of Cochrane groups or units that support authors in developing content or best practice for the Cochrane Library, must adhere to the following rules:

• They cannot be funded by any commercial organization with a financial interest. 

• They cannot accept funds from commercial sponsors or commercial sources that have a financial interest.

Funding may come from external non-commercial granting bodies such as governments and not- for-profit organizations. 

Non-financial interests  

For non-financial interests, transparency is key. Declarations of non-financial interests do not necessarily prevent involvement in Cochrane entities.

The types of interests that could be declared, include, but are not limited to: 

• Publication in medical journal editorials / opinion pieces, the public press, broadcast and social media, of opinions relevant to the topic of the relevant Cochrane entity (not including peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals). 

• Work as a health professional or advisor on the topic or broader area relevant to the topic of the relevant Cochrane entity, whether in public or private practice. 

• Any affiliation to an organization (including not-for-profit) that has a declared ideological or political opinion relevant to topic of the relevant Cochrane entity.