The PMPRB has the mandate to protect Canadian consumers by ensuring that the prices of patented drugs sold in Canada are not “excessive”. In making this judgement the Board compares the proposed Canadian price either to prices of existing drugs in Canada, or to prices in seven markets designated in the regulations: France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries were selected in 1987 as ones that had or aspired to have a strong national presence of the pharmaceutical industry.