I think everyone applies it in a different way based on the need for it. It does apply, and there are many examples where we apply it. It's used where there's some evidence and the evidence is not conclusive, but based on the possibility of risk we will take the action.
If you want an example, I suppose you could use the example of the bisphenol A in baby bottles. It was banned recently by Health Canada using the precautionary principle. The evidence is not conclusive that it's harmful, actually, but because children could be potentially harmed the precautionary principle was taken. Other countries haven't used that evidence available and taken action; Health Canada did. That's one example. But in the case of electromagnetic energy and potential harms, we believe there's enough evidence and therefore we don't take the precautionary principle.
The examples in Europe, where neighbourhoods or communities have banned cell towers in schoolyards and things, that's the precautionary principle. Communities can do that based on the local politics and decisions they make there, but it's not based on scientific evidence.