Tokyo  - Chemical tests in Japan have confirmed that a Chinese-produced chocolate containing the chemical melamine was imported into Japan, local media reported Sunday, adding that the government in the city of Osaka has called on the importer NS International to recall the sweets from markets.

According to the reports, shopowners throughout Japan had already removed the product "Chocolate Pillows" from their shelves. NS International since January had imported around 798,000 packages of the sweet, which was produced in Shanghai, China.

Melamine - which is used to produce fertilizers, pesticides and plastics - was first discovered in baby formula in China last month when infants began coming down with kidney problems. Four of the babies have died and thousands have become ill.

The chemical was added to low-quality or watered-down milk to boost its protein content and fetch a higher price. (dpa)