HILLSBORO — An effort to curb methamphetamine labs by requiring prescriptions for select cold and allergy medications cleared the first round of approvals Monday in Jefferson County.

County executives voted unanimously to require prescriptions for over-the-counter medications containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine, which doubles as the main ingredient in meth. It's the first of three readings the bill must pass before it can become law.

"We made a big step today, and I hope we can continue on," said County Executive Chuck Banks, the bill's sponsor. "We've sent a clear message that it is our intent to address this issue in Jefferson County."

The move comes after two cities in Franklin County enacted the same policy.

City leaders in Washington, Mo., approved the measure July 7. As of Sept. 30, sales of the decongestant at pharmacies there have dropped by about 93 percent and meth lab busts have dropped by about 85 percent compared with the three months before the law was passed, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

Officials in neighboring Union passed a prescription law in October.

But opponents to the idea, including the Missouri Medical Association, Missouri Retailers Association and Missouri Pharmacists Association, say the measure is unfair to legitimate consumers and restricts access to the drug.

The organizations favor a statewide electronic database that would track pseudoephedrine purchases. Missouri legislators enacted a law requiring pharmacies to report sales to a statewide database, but the $800,000 system was never funded.

Earlier this year, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a pharmaceutical trade association, agreed to pay for the system and is working with the state to launch it.

Jefferson County narcotics officers say the database is a great investigative tool but does nothing to prevent meth labs. Jefferson County has for years led the state in meth lab busts.

Oregon is the only state to return pseudoephedrine to its prescription status, as it was before 1976. There, meth lab busts average about 20 annually with most of them being remnants of meth lab materials.

County Executive Ed Kemp said he doubts a prescription ordinance will make much of an impact, because only nine of the county's 32 pharmacies fall within unincorporated areas Jefferson County. "But it's better than doing nothing," Kemp said.

Banks said he is confident municipalities will follow the county's lead. Kemp disagreed.

County Executive Pat Lamping said he is unsure whether he will vote in favor of the bill the next time it is up for consideration because he wants to see it amended to include a provision requiring property owners to pay for meth lab cleanups.

"I would prefer to see a single comprehensive bill, but whether that can be worked out, I don't know," Lamping said.

Lamping added that the only way he believes a prescription law can make a difference is if it becomes a statewide law.

"Absent action on the part of the state, we will do what we can do to protect our citizens," Lamping said.