The common quality and safety standards were endorsed by 643 votes to 16, amid eight abstentions.
The House also backed the Commission's 2009-2015 action plan on organ donation and transplantation.
The proposal for a directive and accompanying 10-point action plan were put forward by the Commission in December 2008. The aim is to help increase the supply of organ donors across the EU, enhance the efficiency and accessibility of transplantation systems and ensure the quality and safety of the procedures.
The directive, which has already received political backing from EU member states, will enter into force later in 2010 and national governments will have two years to transpose it into national legislation.
New organ authorities
According to the new rules, EU member states must set up a national authority responsible for maintaining quality and safety standards for organs intended for transplantation (EurActiv 17/03/10).
These authorities will approve procurement organisations and transplant centres, set up reporting and management systems for serious adverse reactions, collect data on the outcome of transplants and supervise organ swaps with other member states and third countries.
Voluntary, unpaid donations to fight trafficking
The rules insist that all organ donations must be voluntary and unpaid, while living donors may receive compensation "provided it is strictly limited to making good the expenses and loss of incomes related to the donation".
Member states are required to ban any advertising of the need for - or the availability of - human organs where the aim is financial gain.
EU database
MEPs further recommended creating an EU database containing information about organs intended for donation and transplantation and about living or deceased donors.
They also asked for a pan-European certification system to provide proof that human organs and tissues have been obtained legally.
