Foot and mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, is known by the economic losses it causes in farms and in regions where it is endemic. The State of São Paulo has not recorded FMD outbreaks since 1996. Based on official data from 1997 to 2012, this study organized, analyzed, and confronted the following information with the current literature: a) the FMD vaccination rates from 1997 to 2012 in São Paulo; b) the results of the official monitoring designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccination against FMD; c) the passive surveillance procedures and compliance with reports of suspected vesicular disease in the State of São Paulo; d) the results of the official monitoring designed to demonstrate the absence of viral circulation in the State of São Paulo; e) the relation between the preventive measures adopted by the veterinarian official service with the challenge of FMD outbreaks in other neighboring states. Finally, the description of the free area without vaccination implementation prospects for the State of São Paulo, classification granted by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The data analysis showed that sanitary measures, strategies, and the methodology to assess the efficacy of the FMD eradication program in the State of São Paulo were efficient. Even though the data suggest that the state is able to upgrade to a FMD free area without vaccination, some aspects should be taken into account, such as the structure of the state's Official Veterinary Service, disease control programs in states epidemiologically related with São Paulo and the commitment of the whole supply chain with surveillance and eradication of FMD.