6. Funding for projects containing creosote 6.1. At the World Bank 3 Environmental and Social Standard no. 3 (ESS 3 – Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management) applies to all elements of a World Bank funded project. This standard prohibits the use of certain chemical pesticides. In the articles on pesticide use, ESS 3 applies a precautionary principle by deeming a prohibited active ingredient to be a prohibition on the substance (“In addition, the Borrower will also not use any pesticide products that contain active ingredients that are restricted under applicable international conventions or their protocols or that are listed in, or meeting, the criteria of their annexes”). ESS 3 also considers cancer, genetic mutation, and reprotoxicity risks as tier 1 risks requiring a pesticide ban: “The Borrower will also not use any formulated pesticide products that meet the criteria of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or reproductive toxicity as set forth by relevant international agencies.” For other products posing a serious health and environmental hazard, ESS 3: - defers to national regulations. - prohibits the use of the substances by non-professionals and where there are no measures to protect people and "proper" facilities to manage, store and use these products. Without specifically mentioning creosote, the World Bank prohibits funding for projects that include creosote products because creosote is a known carcinogen.
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