stringent

“As a result of this stringent quality control, we have rejected clients whose cases did not meet our criteria,” the firm said.

Ship management systems are now required - rather than simply advised - to include increasingly stringent cyber security measures, ranging from basic security hygiene to more technical operational and IT measures.

It said vendors were required to comply with the company's rules and "stringent safety standards and must also abide by the relevant laws and regulations of the markets where we operate".

Inside, three glass-lined labs are linked by "clever interconnecting corridors that balance stringent security with transparency, putting science on display".

They added: "Vendors are required to comply with Shein's code of conduct and stringent safety standards."