São Paulo classifies municipalities by incidence of citrus greening.

The Government of São Paulo, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (SAA), published today (July 6th) Defense Ordinance No. 46 of 2026, regulating SAA Resolution No. 32 of 2026, which established new measures to be adopted by producers for the prevention and control of HLB/Greening. From now on, municipalities in São Paulo will be classified as locations with low or high incidence of the disease. 

The classification should take into account consolidated data from semi-annual reports and phytosanitary surveys carried out by the Agricultural Defense agency. For the classification of municipalities into incidence ranges, at least 10% of the registered properties with cultivated citrus areas will be considered or, alternatively, through a sample survey. 

According to the publication, the classification will be reviewed annually in May based on data from the previous year. "The measure aims to encourage municipalities where citrus farming has an economic impact to intensify their control actions with producers, and above all, to eradicate diseased plants in their production areas," highlights Alexandre Paloschi, head of the Department of Plant Health Defense.

Municipalities with low incidence of HLB 

From the date of publication, the following locations are classified as municipalities with a low incidence of HLB/Greening: 

Adamantina, Alfredo Marcondes, Alto Alegre, Álvares Machado, Andradina, Anhumas, Aparecida d'Oeste, Araçatuba, Arco-Íris, Aspásia, Assis, Auriflama, Avanhandava, Barbosa, Bastos, Bento de Abreu, Bilac, Birigui, Borá, Braúna, Brejo Alegre, Caiabu, Caiuá, Castilho, Clementina, Coroados, Cruzália, Dirce Reis, Dolcinópolis, Dracena, Emilianópolis, Estrela do Norte, Estrela d'Oeste, Euclides da Cunha Paulista, Fernandópolis, Flora Rica, Flórida Paulista, Florínia, Gabriel Monteiro, General Salgado, Glicério, Guaraçaí, Guarani d'Oeste, Guararapes, Guzolândia, Herculândia, Iacri, Iepê, Ilha Solteira, Indiana, Indiaporã, Inúbia Paulista, Irapuru, Itapura, Jales, João Ramalho, Junqueirópolis, Lavínia, Lucélia, Luiziânia, Lutécia, Macedônia, Marabá Paulista, Maracaí, Mariápolis, Marinópolis, Martinópolis, Mesópolis, Mira Estrela, Mirandópolis, Mirante do Paranapanema, Monte Castelo, Murutinga do Sul, Nantes, Narandiba, Nova Canaã Paulista, Nova Castilho, Nova Guataporanga, Nova Independência, Osvaldo Cruz, Ouroeste, Ouro Verde, Pacaembu, Palmeira d'Oeste, Panorama, Paraguaçú Paulista, Paranapuã, Parapuã, Paulicéia, Pedrinhas Paulista, Penápolis, Pereira Barreto, Piacatu, Piquerobi, Pirapozinho, Pontalinda, Populina, Pracinha, Presidente Bernardes, Presidente Epitácio, Presidente Prudente, Presidente Venceslau, Quatá, Queiroz, Quintana, Rancharia, Regente Feijó, Ribeirão dos Índios, Rinópolis, Rosana, Rubiácea, Rubinéia, Sagres, Salmourão, Sandovalina, Santa Albertina, Santa Clara d'Oeste, Santa Fé do Sul, Santa Mercedes, Santana da Ponte Pensa, Santa Rita d'Oeste, Santa Salete, Santo Anastácio, Santo Antônio do Aracanguá, Santo Expedito, Santópolis do Aguapeí, São Francisco, São João das Duas Pontes, São João de Iracema, São João do Pau d'Alho, Sud Mennucci, Suzanápolis, Taciba, Tarabai, Tarumã, Teodoro Sampaio, Três Fronteiras, Tupã, Tupi Paulista, Turmalina, Urânia, Valparaíso and Vitória Brasil.

Other municipalities are classified as having a high incidence rate.

According to the Ordinance, all other municipalities in the State of São Paulo are now classified as having a high incidence of disease. Therefore, the eradication of diseased plants will be defined differently for each area. 

Producers who have diseased adult trees and whose production areas are located in municipalities with a high incidence of the disease are no longer required to carry out compulsory eradication. In these locations, elimination is now only required for new plants, up to three (3) years old. In municipalities with a low incidence of the disease, eradication remains mandatory for all ages.

“The updated legislation attempts to adapt to the harsh reality of the disease's impact in the State of São Paulo and to bring balance to the citrus sector in areas of high incidence, avoiding the eradication of mature orchards as long as they are under proper management of the disease and the vector insect,” explains Paloschi. 

Transportation of seedlings is also updated.

Interstate transportation of citrus plants is also being updated. From now on, processing and brushing the fruit before transit from São Paulo to other states is mandatory, aiming to eliminate leaves or branches that could become potential vectors of the disease. The only exception to this measure is for Ponkan tangerines. It is important to remember that these measures apply to citrus plants (Citrus spp.), Fortunella spp., and Poncirus spp.

The publication of Defense Ordinance No. 46 of 2026 is available at the link below.