This protocol describes the state of knowledge on the safety in use of preparations from the fruits of sweet and bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Foeniculum piperitum (Ucria) C.Presl) at the time of drafting the protocol and before the full assessment is carried out, outlines the assessment questions and sub‐questions, specifies the evidence needs, and provides a detailed plan for the assessment. It is applied to the first three risk assessment steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation and exposure assessment. Risk characterisation will be performed based on the outcome of hazard characterisation and exposure assessment. The protocol is based on a narrative review of the evidence and on expert knowledge. It aims to inform the systematic searches that will form the basis for the assessment.