The Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, has said it is ambitious to expect loyalist paramilitaries to hand over weapons before the IRA has decommissioned.
The comments were made after a UDP delegation yesterday met the head of the international decommissioning body, General John de Chastelain.
The UDP also said it would be difficult to convince the paramilitaries that they would not be prosecuted if stopped by the security forces while transporting weapons for decommissioning.
The UDP described its hour-long meeting with General de Chastelain in Belfast as "constructive" but stressed that it was only a routine meeting.
The UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, said he hoped further discussions would take place soon. "This is all part of the ongoing process. We have always taken a responsible attitude to this issue but it would be ambitious to expect loyalist paramilitaries to give up their weapons before the IRA has said it is prepared to give up arms."
The UDP's press officer, Mr David Adams, said any ideas or proposals put forward during yesterday's meeting would be relayed back to the paramilitary leaders.
"Whether or not people begin to decommission is up to themselves. Our role in all of this is to try as much as we can to create the conditions whereby it is possible for people to start decommissioning."
The meeting came as it emerged that paramilitaries who hand over arms and explosives would be granted immunity from prosecution.
The rules for the decommissioning process, agreed earlier this year by the international body and the parties at the Stormont talks, include plans to give paramilitary groups code words to authenticate any consignment of weapons being transferred.
A security forces escort during transfer will be available. Those transporting either guns or explosives will be given immunity from prosecution. There will also be no forensic tests on guns to try to link them with past killings and a nominee of the paramilitary group will be able to be present to verify the destruction of the weapons.