Deputy Director Joshua Ramos said distributors of the White Rabbit creamy candy, Milk Candy, Bairong grape biscuits and Yong Kang Foods Grape Biscuit had been given 15 to 30 days to pull out their products.

Ramos said BFAD tests discovered that the four products contained formaldehyde or formalin.

He also advised consumers of the products to call BFAD's hotline 842-5606 to report if they are feeling sick after eating any of the products.

Ramos clarified that BFAD has no police powers to force the distributors to pull out the products from the market. He said letters will be sent to distributors advising them that the products can only be sold if they are proven safe.

BFAD clarified that it is not singling out products imported from China. It said that it is only protecting the Filipino consumers from harmful products.

Meanwhile, Bulacan Rep. Reylinda Nicolas urged the government to cancel import permits of companies that will continue to distribute unsafe Chinese products.

¡°The reports cited that grapes, biscuits and the soft White Rabbit candy from China were found containing formaldehyde. Something must be done by our government to protect the people against tainted foods from China,¡± Nicolas said.

Nicolas said importers of these products and their local agents should be monitored strictly. He said the government should order the immediate closure of companies importing tainted goods from China.

BFAD imposed new rules for the distribution of imported food products in the country after receiving reports of unsafe Chinese food products.

China's safety standards have come under sharp international criticism amid regular reports of fake, shoddy or dangerous goods emanating from the nation's chaotic and corrupt food and drug industry.

Reports in the United States of tainted pet foods, dangerous toys, drugs, fish, cosmetics and other products from China have led to a spate of recalls and bans there.

Chinese officials have blamed foreign media for exaggerating the issue but have also admitted there is a serious problem with food hygiene and safety standards in the nation of 1.3 billion people.

Toxic seafood, virus-plagued pigs and chemical-laden toothpaste are just some of the problems to have hit headlines around the world in recent months.

China this week executed the former head of its food and drug safety watchdog for corruption, in what was widely seen as an attempt by the government to show it is serious about the problem.