BRUSSELS - The European Union approved a vast overhaul of food inspection procedures Wednesday in the hope of restoring consumer confidence in food policy. The reforms include the addition of nearly 100 new food inspectors and creation of a food safety center in Ireland, said Emma Bonino, the E.U.'s top food safety official. Bonino said E.U. policy guiding food production, inspection and labeling would all be under review. "We are going to revise all community legislation regarding food," she said, adding that the new measures would "give a boost to food safety as it affects consumer health." She noted however, that E.U. headquarters would have only a "management role" in food safety and that the 15 E.U. nations would have primary responsibility in enforcing standards. "This is not going to be health police," she said. The planned reforms come in the wake of several recent foodrelated crises most notably last year's outbreak of mad cow disease which caused consumers to the question the integrity of Europe's

agricultural sector. After the deadly, brainwasting ailment affecting cattle was tentatively linked to an equally fatal brain disease in humans, beef sales crashed throughout Europe. In February, the European Parliament considered a noconfidence motion over mismanagement of the crisis by the Commission, the E.U.'s executive body. That measure was rejected, but parliament members promised to consider another censure motion at the end of the year if reforms in food policy are not made. Since then, the E.U. has clashed with the United States over poultry processing procedures and faced dissent from some member states over its decision last year to allow import of geneticallyengineered grain. Farmers, environmentalists and consumer groups have protested the imports, which largely come from the United States, contending the corn hasn't been adequately tested for safety. Bonino said officials are now reviewing whether a Commission panel of medical experts shouldhave to give its approval before geneticallyengineere

d foods could be sold in the E.U.. "We are reviewing the mandate of the scientific committee," she said.