Phytosanitary emergency decree was extended after pests in cocoa and cupuaçu Photo: Mapa/Disclosure The period of validity of the phytosanitary emergency was extended for a fifth year due to the presence of the quarantine pest moniliasis, identified in 2021 in Acre, which attacks cocoa and cupuaçu fruits. The ordinance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) was published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) this Friday (24) and extends the emergency for another year. The measure maintains the measures already established by the federal government to prevent the spread of the disease in the state. The text comes into force on August 5th and also covers the states of Amazonas, Pará and Rondônia, which are at risk of introducing the pest. ? Join the g1 AC channel on WhatsApp To g1, the superintendent of Mapa in Acre, Paulo Trindade, explained that the focus of moniliasis in the state remains restricted to Cruzeiro do Sul, Mâncio Lima, Rodrigues Alves and Marechal Thaumaturgo. The state of Acre has remained an area under quarantine for the plague since 2022. "Both the monitoring and containment measures carried out in Acre are a reference, as they have prevented the spread of the pest outside the areas where it was initially found. Throughout the state, monitoring is carried out on properties twice a year", he highlighted. g1 in 1 minute - AC: New suspicion of moniliasis is investigated in the interior of Acre ? Prague: moniliasis is one of the most devastating pests in national agriculture. The disease severely attacks cocoa and cupuaçu fruits. The infection causes progressive rot of crops, with the potential to destroy up to 80% of an entire plantation. Among the actions foreseen in the emergency plan is the identification of areas that must be monitored, based on georeferenced data. Furthermore, the measure seeks to expand phytosanitary surveillance in regions considered more vulnerable to the spread of the disease. According to the decree, Mapa will also maintain phytosanitary education actions aimed at rural producers and others involved in the production of cocoa and cupuaçu. The guidelines include preventive measures for early identification and adequate management of pest outbreaks. Furthermore, monitoring, suppression and eradication actions continue to be carried out in areas where the presence of the fungus is confirmed, already established in Ordinance No. 818, of July 21, 2025, as well as additional biosafety procedures for the transport of cocoa beans. Pest threatens production Moniliophthora roreri is a fungus that causes so-called cocoa moniliasis, a disease capable of compromising a large part of production by directly affecting the fruits. Symptoms include dark spots, deformations and rotting of infected fruits. As it is a quarantine pest, the presence of the fungus requires the adoption of strict control measures to prevent its spread. The disease represents a significant economic risk for cocoa and cupuaçu producers, especially in the Amazon region. Emergency for 5 years The phytosanitary emergency situation in Acre has been in force for five years. The measure allows the federal government to take exceptional actions to contain the spread of the pest, in addition to reinforcing monitoring in producing areas. The city of Cruzeiro do Sul, in the interior of Acre, recorded the first outbreak of moniliasis in Brazil in July 2021, and, since then, the government has taken some measures to contain the spread of the plague in the region and also to other states. With the extension, the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa) seeks to guarantee the continuity of prevention and control strategies, reducing the impacts on agricultural production in the states of the Northern Region affected or threatened by the disease. By November 2021, the first year of emergency in the state, more than 580 trees had already been cut down in the interior of Acre. At the time, Idaf wanted to isolate the spread of the disease so that it would not reach rural areas or other states in Brazil. Cocoa moniliasis Moniliasis is a devastating disease that mainly affects plants of the genus Theobroma, such as cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum). The disease requires additional management measures and application of fungicides to control the pest. This is a disease that affects only the host plants of the fungus, without any risk of harm to human health. The Ministry warns that, due to its potential for damaging crops, immediate notification of any suspected occurrence of the pest is of fundamental importance. Among the main symptoms are deformations in the young fruits, the appearance of dark spots (chocolate color) inside the fruit and, finally, a dense layer of whitish or creamy powder on the skin, which are the spores ready to spread by the wind after contamination. Review Acre’s news programs