MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Richard Gordon is asking the Bureau of Customs to check its records of all shipments from China to determine if Chinese milk products were brought into the country.

“The Bureau of Customs should coordinate with the Philippine Ports Authority to check which shipments came from China and what did they unload,” Gordon said in a phone interview as he expressed concern over the milk crisis China is facing.

Milk products are being recalled in China after four babies died and 6,200 others were hospitalized after drinking milk products tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which is used in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizers. Melamine, when added to milk, gives it higher protein content.

Malaysia, Singapore and Tanzania have already banned China-made milk products.

The Department of Health has said milk brands being recalled in China are not being sold in the Philippines. Health officials have warned the public against buying unbranded milk powder sold in some markets by the kilo.

The problem: “Smuggling of Chinese products is prevalent,” Gordon said.

Thus, it is not enough for government agencies to raid outlets in Metro Manila. “If it goes out to the provinces, then people are on harm’s way,” Gordon said.

Instead of government agencies raiding stores and searching outlets for the milk brands being recalled, the Department of Trade and Industry should also require companies to declare if they have imported China-made milk products, the senator added.