After September 1, 2013, the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) of grants and contracts must be consistent with the 2013 Guidelines. In their submission to NIH, grant applicants and contract offerors are required to describe any method of euthanasia to be used and the reasons for its selection and to state whether the method proposed is consistent with the 2013 AVMA Guidelines. If the proposed method is not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines, a scientific justification must be included in the VAS.