The UFF is being 'stood down' from midnight on Sunday
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The Ulster Defence Association is to stand down part of its organisation, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, from midnight.
It also said UFF weapons were being put beyond use, but stressed that this does not mean they will be decommissioned.
In a statement on Remembrance Sunday, the UDA leadership issued a strongly-worded attack on criminals in loyalist areas.
It said anyone with information about crime should pass it to the police.
The statement said: "The Ulster Defence Association is committed to achieving
a society where violence and weaponry are ghosts of the past."
Earlier, Frankie Gallagher, of the Ulster Political Research Group, which gives political advice to the UDA, said talks had been going on for some time.
"They are looking for a way forward, in terms of dealing with crime and criminality in a big way and drug dealers, in particular, who are destroying our communities," he said.
"We have been talking about it for a long time and testing the water to see if the war is over."
On Saturday, the DUP's Ian Paisley junior said the UDA should be judged on its actions and not on its words.
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