Shiseido Co., the nation’s largest maker of cosmetics, will abolish animal testing for products to be developed from April at both domestic and overseas laboratories, as alternative methods have been established.

In a news release, the company said the decision was made at meeting of its directors Thursday.

The ban will not be applicable if Shiseido has to account for the safety of products already on the market and animal testing is the only option for proving they do not pose any danger.

Shiseido said the safety of its products can be ensured through the use of databases, in vitro tests and final stage trials on human subjects.

The Tokyo-based firm said it did away with animal testing at its in-house laboratories in March 2011, following a European Union directive on cosmetics banning the practice.

Shiseido said it held five rounds of meetings with academics, animal welfare advocates and other stakeholders between June 2010 and this January to examine the matter in depth.