What does this Elsevier revision report mean?

My reading is that the associate editor has rejected the article and it just has to be formalized by either the editorial staff or the editor-in-chief.

Prepare for an email with bad news :-(


Thank you for all of your answers and comments. This was some bug in EVISE system. Supporting section of EVISE is trying to fix it in next updates.


Generally, the Associate Editor of a journal makes a recommendation about whether the paper should be accepted or rejected. In your case, the AE has recommended a rejection. However, the final decision is taken by the EIC. That is why the status is still showing "Decision pending." Once the EIC formally takes the decision and communicates it you to over email, the decision making process will be considered formally closed.

In most cases, the EIC’s decision matches with the AE’s recommendation, and the EIC's decision is a mere formality. However, in some exceptional cases, the EIC might review the manuscript himself and give a different decision. However, such cases are extremely rare, and you should be mentally prepared for a rejection.