Wellington, Oct 8 NZPA - Labour is questioning whether alternatives to a ban on over the counter sales of cough medicines containing pseudoephedrine were investigated.

Prime Minister John Key announced this afternoon that pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient in many cold and flu medication, will become a Class B2 prescription-only drug.

People would now have to go to their doctor for a prescription before they could purchase it.

Medsafe has been asked to consider if a total ban on pseudoephedrine, used to make the illegal drug "P", pure methamphetamine, should go ahead.

Police and groups who work with drug addicts have welcomed the partial ban and other measures to boost control and to better assist addicts.

Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove said while Labour was supportive of the package he was concerned the law-abiding public was being punished for the actions of a few.

People have to give identification and details to buy the medicine now but Mr Cosgrove said that measure could be beefed up and information sent directly to police.

"I would have thought it would give police good leads if a person kept popping up in the system."

He said if alternatives were considered and ruled out the public should be told.

"You've got to be careful when you pass legislation that you don't end up whacking a huge cost onto the law abiding person."

Mr Cosgrove also said the Government was expecting Customs and police to do more, despite recent budget reductions.

There are alternative medications containing Phenylephrine which could not be used as a precursor for P and was effective for about 80 percent of people.

Those containing pseudoephedrine only represented about 30 percent of sales.

New Zealand Self Medication Industry Association executive director Tim Roper said the partial ban was extreme and unjustified.

He said cold medicines were safe and effective and patients should not suffer because of the actions of criminals.

The association supported the use of software that immediately passed on details of sales.

"Government will regret this move when medical professionals are besieged by people wanting prescriptions for an effective cold or flu medicine."

The Pharmacy Guild chief executive Annabel Young said the changes would mean more work for pharmacists.

She asked the public to understand when pharmacists could not give them what they wanted without a prescription.

Pharmacists will not be required to stock the drug so having a prescription would not guarantee being able to get it.

Police assistant commissioner Viv Rickard welcomed the ban and other measures.

"A whole of government approach means that as a nation we can be more effective in the battle against methamphetamine and the organised criminals that manufacture and supply it," he said.

"Police support the control of pseudoephedrine as it would allow us to concentrate resources and work with Customs on preventing the importation of precursors from overseas."

Also announced today was an extra $22 million funding for additional rehabilitation beds, frontline workers, improved helpline and greater power for compulsory treatment.

Odyssey House in Auckland, which cares for addicts, welcomed increased funding for treatment.

Odyssey chief executive Christine Kalin said drugs such as P were highly addictive but residential treatment was highly effective.

"For every person addicted to P there is a mother, a father or a son or daughter who knows first-hand the devastation this drug causes," she said.

The Salvation Army, National Committee for Addiction Treatment and Stellar Trust also welcomed the announcements.