If the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection was in any doubt about the magnitude of his task, a behind-the-scenes visit to the recent G8 summit of the world's most powerful economies in Cologne would have given him a snap indication. Apart from the Kosovo crisis, food safety rather than economics dominated.
A trawl through the minutes of meetings of the outgoing commission would probably show food as the single issue that took up most of its time. Food safety - essentially, the health of Europe's consumers - was always pressing. The list of food scares serves as a chilling reminder of the trauma Europe faced over food, starting with BSE and ending only weeks ago with the Belgian dioxin scandal. Thus the term "including food safety" has been attached to Mr Byrne's title as an indication of intent. Public health, too, has seen bad days; none more so than the consequences of contaminated blood. But it was BSE that signalled a seismic shift in Commission attitudes - an end to agricultural/ food producer interests dominating those of consumers. The European Parliament's first public inquiry was into the BSE catastrophe. It found that those responsible for EU agriculture (including former commissioner Mr Ray MacSharry) may have minimised the extent of the problem. That finding echoed in many ears for many months later. To act - and quickly - became the mantra of EU authorities in response to any tangible indicator of trouble with food.
An expanded DG 24 came into being under Ms Emma Bonino and the consumer policy heading. It was a logical move: an attempt to create a sense of independence with food but, ultimately, a desperate attempt to restore credibility in the EU regulation of food and protection of public health. The Amsterdam Treaty further elevated consumer protection as a priority, even if the higher profile did not include significant new powers.
Mr Byrne not only inherits all that brief but his role is considerably expanded. One EU official said he had "an enhanced department, but it's coherent". He will be inheriting the directorate responsible for public health and safety at work based in Luxembourg, and part of DG 6 (agriculture) which deals with veterinary legislation. The expanded portfolio also includes what is likely to shake the world of sport even more than it has been shaken of late; the issue of performance-enhancing drugs. Mr Prodi highlighted this task yesterday. The Commissioner may also assume responsibility for chemicals and cosmetics as they apply to health.
The Food and Veterinary Office, which is based in Dublin but due to move to Grange, Co Meath, remains a key division as it has responsibility for ensuring all community legislation on food is implemented within member-states and applies to non-EU food being imported to Europe.
This office is headed by the former government press officer, Mr Peter Prendergast, who is mentioned as a possible chef de cabinet. Mr Prodi's declared wish for "multinational cabinets" may go against him, though he has the required credentials, having served in Brussels and overseen "conventional consumer policy", which covers contracts for everything from consumer credit to package holidays - an area Mr Byrne should be at home with, given his legal expertise. The head of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, Mr Jim Murray, is another Irish person who could form a vital part of the Byrne cabinet.
What could prove to be the most vexatious issue appearing on Mr Byrne's desk is GM foods and the labelling of such produce. But it will not be his exclusively, as agriculture and environment commissioners will have strong inputs, and a new co-ordinating structure is likely to come into being. An intriguing related move may be to set up an EU equivalent of the US Food and Drug Administration in an attempt to send clearer messages on food safety and health, which would have direct implications for Mr Byrne.
His job may not be on a par with the traditional heavyweight portfolios on the economics or foreign affairs fronts, but it has steadily moved up the ladder of significance. Mr Prodi said it was a key one when announcing his commission.