(a) The Commissioner shall establish standards for the preservatives used and for the treatment of timber or timber products. Such standards shall be in conformity with those which are currently adopted by the American Wood Preservers' Association or the American Wood Preservers' Bureau or both, provided that the Commissioner may develop special regulations for the treatment of ash, oak, hickory, and other similar types of hardwood. However, nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit any processor of treated timber or timber products from employing preservative and treatment standards for utility poles, piling, railroad ties, timbers, or laminated structures when treated to meet the purchaser's engineered specifications for specific applications.

(b) Any other provision of this Code section to the contrary notwithstanding, the use of any creosote-petroleum oil solution as a preservative is prohibited. It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale any timber or timber product treated with any creosote-petroleum oil solution.