The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) said Tuesday that it will not include in its melamine contamination testing China-made processed meat products unless tests would be requested by the Department of Agriculture.

"The regulation authority of meat products has been transferred to the NMIS (National Meat Inspection Service) under the Department of Agriculture (DA)," BFAD chief Leticia Gutierrez told radio dzMM when asked if the bureau has started testing canned meat products for melamine contamination.

She clarified that the BFAD is strictly concentrating on milk and other milk products as specified in the ban order issued by Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

She said BFAD laboratories are also currently full with more than 200 samples of milk and other milk products being subjected to melamine testing.

She added that more samples from the BFAD regional offices are coming in daily.

Gutierrez said the BFAD will include meat products in the melamine testing only if requested by the agriculture department "due to urgency."

Duque had been saying over media interviews that canned meat goods and instant noodle products will also be subjected to melamine testing.

This was after Qualivet, an independent laboratory, revealed to ABS-CBN News' Julius Babao that eight China-made products have tested positive with melamine.

Babao's report said the melamine-positive products include luncheon meat and corned beef brands imported from China.

Gutierrez said the NMIS staff have been trained by BFAD experts. She added that the agency also has equipment that are capable of detecting melamine in food products. 

Meanwhile, Gutierrez said she will submit on Tuesday an additional list of products that have been tested by BFAD laboratories. She said "it's up to the DOH secretary when he will make an announcement."

She said the list includes products that have tested positive and negative with melamine contamination.