ZHENGZHOU - A Chinese lubricant producer has obtained dual-quality certification from the US National Sanitation Foundation for its food-grade products, the first Asian company to receive such international recognition.

Henan Beijia Lubrication Science & Technology Co Ltd said its five circulating oil products used in food were granted H1 and ISO21469 certification from the Michigan-based product testing, inspection organization.

Only 16 companies have such certification.

Food-grade lubricant is crucial in food processing and packaging but there is still a lack of national standards. Most domestic consumption is imported.

The dominance of expensive overseas lubricants has increased costs to downstream companies and with health hazards in small food producers that using cheaper non-food lubricant, said Zhu Jianhua, a professor of China University of Petroleum.

Industry analysts expect domestic lubricant producers to reduce corporate costs and improve food security.

Beijia Lubrication, founded in Central China's Henan province in 2005, has a production capacity of 50,000 tons each year.