EUROPEAN Union authorities Tuesday fined the Japanese company behind Hello Kitty for restricting cross-border online sales of toys, mugs, bags and other products featuring the cartoon cat girl.

Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s antitrust commissioner, said that Sanrio Co. was fined 6.2 million euros (US$7 million) because the company violated the bloc’s competition rules with licensing agreements that banned traders from selling merchandise in different countries in the bloc.

The commission found Sanrio’s illegal practices were in force for 11 years until December.

Restricting cross-border sales “leads to less choice and potentially higher prices for consumers and is against EU antitrust rules,” Vestager said.

EU launched its investigation in 2017, alongside probes into Nike and Universal Studios, as it ratcheted up scrutiny of e-commerce as part of efforts to foster a “digital single market.”

Sanrio said yesterday the fine will be recorded as an extraordinary loss in its fiscal first quarter financial statement. The firm has cooperated with the investigation, it said from Tokyo.

“Sanrio fully accepts the European Commission’s decision and remains committed to enforcing and enhancing our compliance program,” it said.

Created in 1974, the bewhiskered, mouthless Hello Kitty has become a global icon with fans of all ages. Sanrio says she can be found on 50,000 different branded products sold in 130 countries. The company also owns rights to other animated characters including the “Mr. Men” and “Little Miss” series.

(SD-Agencies)