The RBI has eased gold import norms and allowed select trading houses to procure it from abroad. In a notification issued from Mumbai, the RBI said that star trading houses or premier trading houses which are registered as nominated agencies can now import gold under 20:80 scheme.Under this scheme, an importer has to ensure that at least 20 per cent of every lot of imported gold is exclusively made available for export purpose. Further, the RBI has also allowed banks to give gold loans to domestic jewellery manufacturers, out of their eligible domestic import quota of 80 percent.The RBI, in July last year, had imposed severe restrictions on gold imports in order to check the escalating current account deficit and sliding rupee. The central bank said that the decision to ease the restriction was taken after several representations from jewellers, bullion dealers, banks, and trade bodies.