Plastics are increasingly being used in applications where flame retardancy properties are critical. For example, in household appliances, car interiors, cable insulation and computer casings. The earliest flame retardants comprised vinegar and alum, which were used on wood and textiles. Today there is a much wider range of chemicals available for compounding into plastics materials. This review sets out to describe the types of flame retardants available, mechanisms of action and uses. There are many new regulations being issued on health, safety and the environment. These have affected the flame retardant industry and influence the choice of chemical in many applications. There has been particular concern about the use of brominated chemicals, and this report briefly discusses the environmental benefits versus the possible environmental effects of these materials. New chemicals are being developed to improve the flame retardancy of plastics materials and these are outlined here. One of the most promising new substances is the class of polymer-clay nanocomposites, which can substantially improve performance at low levels of addition. retardancy for plastics. It highlights the new developments and the potential problems with legislation, together with the benefits to end users of protection from fire hazards.