The aim of the present work is to provide an overview of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) in the cattle population in terms of the pathogen, transmission, clinical symptoms, diagnostics, control measures, prevalence and the economic impacts of BVDV-infection. Further, the work addresses the new animal health law at EU-level which was implemented on 21 April 2021. The new law highlights that BVD has to be monitored in the EU member states and control measures have to be implemented to prevent the entry and spread of BVDV to other countries. Countries have recently been able to apply for an official BVDV-free status. The work indicates that countries that have implemented control programs against BVDV at an early stage were able to reduce the BVDV-prevalence in their cattle population. These countries have a good chance to get an official BVDV-free status. For instance, a decrease in the BVDV-prevalence is observed in Europe during the period as many countries implemented intervention measures against BVDV. This contrasts with North America, where an increase in the prevalence is observed because no national mandatory intervention programs were implemented at the national level yet. The worldwide monetary production losses are heterogeneous and range from 0.45 euro to 617.00 euro per animal. The main reasons for these heterogeneous production losses are discussed in the present study. BVDV-free countries with a fully susceptible cattle population have to be protected from new BVDV entries, in particular through animal trade for which the new animal health law incorporates corresponding regulations.