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		Organ trafficking must be wiped out Tuesday 22 October 2003 Trafficking in human organs should be made illegal across the EU following a vote tomorrow in the European Parliament. Conservative MEPs have launched a campaign ahead of the vote to raise awareness of the UK Organ Donation scheme. The underlying cause of organ trafficking is a lack of available organs. 5,700 people in the UK are waiting for a transplant, but less than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year. Last year, nearly 400 people died waiting for a transplant. Whilst organ trafficking must be made illegal across the EU, information campaigns on organ, tissue and cell donation should be promoted at European and national level. The objective should be to encourage European citizens to decide to join national donor schemes and to make their wishes known to their family or legal representatives. Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative Justice and Home Affairs Spokesman in the European Parliament, said: "This measure is absolutely necessary if we are to rid Europe of the despicable and illegal trade in human organs. Whilst we are all in favour of voluntary organ donation when it is safe to do so, organised criminals should not take advantage of either naive or opportunistic people in order to create a market of unsafe and unregulated organs. It is far preferable to encourage legal and legitimate organ donation on a voluntary basis where safe and appropriate. I have carried a donor card for many years, and my colleagues and I encourage others to sign up and support the NHS organ donor campaign."