DES MOINES – Iowa’s law cracking down on ingredients used to make methamphetamine is “an enormous gift to the country,” the nation’s drug czar said Tuesday.

“This state has been an example not only for other surrounding states, but for the nation and for the world,” John Walters said during a ceremony at the Statehouse.

Walters said the federal government is following Iowa’s example on an international stage in seeking to crack down on methamphetamine. He said many features of Iowa’s law have been incorporated into an anti-methamphetamine section of the Patriot Act, which is soon to be signed by President Bush.

“It will not take all of the provisions exactly, but it will take many of them and make them nationwide,” Walters said.

Under Iowa’s law, signed by Gov. Tom Vilsack last year, medicines containing pseudoephedrine must be purchased from a pharmacist, and consumers must sign a log when they buy those medicines. Pseudoephedrine is common in many cold medicines, but it also is an essential ingredient used to make meth.

Vilsack said the new law has been an overwhelming success.

“The reality is our bill remains one of the toughest in the nation and in our view is a little bit tougher than the federal law,” Vilsack said. “We want to keep our law because it is working.”

Vilsack said there has been a 76 percent reduction in the number of meth labs in the state since the law went on the books, along with a 57 percent decline in the number of meth-related child abuse cases.

“That’s certainly good news for the safety and security of our children,” he said.

Even the University of Iowa Hospitals – which feature a top-rated burn treatment center – have reported a savings of $2.5 million because of a reduction in the number of people injured in meth lab explosions, Vilsack said.

Iowa’s Drug Czar Marvin Van Haaften was among those pushing to put new restrictions on pseudoephedrine. Van Haaften, a former sheriff, said he got a clear signal from law enforcement that the restrictions were needed, though they likely would inconvenience consumers.

Walters said federal officials are following the Iowa model in seeking to crack down on access to pseudoephedrine. The drug is made only in China, India and Germany, and diplomatic efforts are underway to persuade those countries to reduce the amount they ship to Mexico, the primary source of methamphetamine.

Early agreements already call for reducing the 250 million tons of the chemical to 50 million.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, also praised Iowa’s law, but said looming budget cuts could hinder enforcement.

“President Bush’s proposal could force a 50 percent reduction in the number of federally funded law enforcement officers throughout Iowa,” Harking said.