Manila  - The Philippine government on Saturday ordered agriculture and food authorities to prevent the entry of new stocks of milk contaminated with melamine from China.

The Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Food and Drugs were also directed to monitor the markets amid reports that some contaminated products have reached Philippine markets.

Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said all suspected products should be held immediately.

"They should hold any stock of contaminated milk and make sure it does not reach the market," he said in a radio interview.

According to local media reports, some stores in the Philippines were selling milk brands from China's Mengniu Dairy Group Co and Yili Industrial Group Co - two of three companies found to have melamine in their milk products.

Mengniu, Yili and Bright Dairy have been stripped of the China government's "famous brand" label after melamine was found in some of their products.

Melamine is used as a binding agents and coating for particle, fibre and laminated board. It is also used to make fertilizer.

Four infants have died, while 158 children had developed serious kidney problems from drinking contaminated milk in China. Thousands of parents have also rushed their kids to hospitals for checks. (dpa)